Treatment for Depression and Anxiety
Depression requires treatment from a mental health professional, who may prescribe an antidepressant medication or other types of medication to stabilize your mood, and recommend other therapies.
Medication
For depression, a psychiatrist or healthcare provider may prescribe the following:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, including duloxetine (Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle), venlafaxine (Effexor XR), desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), and levomilnacipran (Fetzima)
- Atypical antidepressants, including trazodone, mirtazapine (Remeron), vortioxetine (Trintellix), vilazodone (Viibryd), and bupropion (Forfivo XL, Wellbutrin SR)
In some cases, other classes of psychiatric medications, such as mood stabilizers, may be prescribed.
For anxiety, the following medications may help:
- Antidepressants
- The anti-anxiety medication buspirone
- Sedatives and beta-blockers (used for heart conditions) in the short term to control physical symptoms of anxiety
Psychotherapy
Various forms of talk therapy are used to treat both depression and anxiety, alone or in combination with medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is particularly effective for anxiety. And it’s also been shown to be effective for depression. CBT focuses on identifying and reevaluating unhelpful or distorted ways of thinking, with the aim of challenging and changing those patterns and behaviors.
However, other forms of psychotherapy are effective at reducing symptoms of depression, so it’s not necessary to limit your options to CBT.
Lifestyle Approaches
In addition to benefiting your physical health, aerobic exercise has also been found to boost mood in people with MS, notes the NMSS.
Getting enough sleep, following a healthy diet, and avoiding alcohol (a depressant) can help ease depression symptoms.
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