Sadness is a part of life. Occasional feelings of melancholy, restlessness, or mood swings are just a few of the many feelings we experience as healthy individuals in response to our circumstances. Clinical depression, however, is different, and is considered a serious mental health condition. It is defined by an incessant feeling of intense sadness and lack of interest in formerly enjoyable activities that goes on for an extended period of time. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) impacts both mood and behavior. People with clinical depression or Major Depressive Disorder often face trouble performing and participating in everyday activities and sometimes feel that leading a normal life is a daunting task. Clinical Depression is surprisingly common.
Residential treatment of clinical depression at Tulasi Psychiatric Nursing homes and Depression rehabilitation centres begins when the resident arrives at Tulasi and is treated with empathy by our considerate staff and other residents. Depression almost always means isolation. When residents arrive, they step back into a socially active life. We are very gentle and help to ease the resident into life at Tuasi. We work with each and every resident individually to find out what is most beneficial for their mental well being, rather than imposing a hard daily schedule on them. In this manner, we empower residents to be a part of their own respective recovery team.
Soon after settling in, residents meet with their team, which includes a therapist, a recovery coordinator, and a psychiatrist. All residents take part in a full evaluation in which they give a history of their lives, symptoms, and illness. We want to get to know residents and develop a full picture of what is troubling them – low mood, trouble with motivation, disruption in sleep, decrease in planning, changes in appetite, etc. – as well as what treatments they have had in the past, and what medications were most helpful.
Medication for Major Depression Disorder
The medications used to treat Major Depressive Disorder are called antidepressants, and there are several antidepressants available. We work with the resident to find the best dosage to reduce symptoms without incurring harmful side effects such as over sedation, sexual side effects, and mental fogginess. The goal is to minimize symptoms without sacrificing overall well-being.
Supplements, such as nutraceuticals, vitamins, minerals and plant extracts, are also used as a part of the treatment. In some instances, the dosage of an antidepressant can be reduced because the supplements have such a positive effect on symptoms.
Getting the right medication at the best dosage is a huge concern, but it is only part of the
treatment plan at CooperRiis. We find that a combination of medication, psychotherapy, exercise, community involvement, and other interventions is most effective in treating the whole person.
Psychotherapy for Major Depression Disorder
For treatment of any challenge, Tulasi Health Care adopts a holistic approach. We don’t focus on the diagnosis, we focus on helping. Some of the therapy modalities we find useful for treating depression are:
- Group and Individual Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the root modality at Tulasi. CBT focuses on solutions, encouraging patients to challenge distorted cognitions and change destructive patterns of behavior.
- Compassionate communication (also called nonviolent communication) teaches how to clearly communicate feelings without blame or criticism, as well as empathetically receiving/listening to how someone else is without hearing blame or criticism. It helps individuals understand their own needs and recognize that others’ needs may be different.
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