Causes of Depression

• Depression can result from a traumatic life event or from physical stress or illness, according to the Mayo Clinic. Depression results from the disruption of the brain's mood regulation. There is no one specific cause of depression, and the symptoms and outcomes depend on each individual's physical and emotional health. Experts agree that individuals with a personal or family history of depression are at higher risk.
  
  

Self-care and Depression

• Most professionals agree that basic self-care methods are very important for individuals with mild depression. Self-care includes basic techniques that reduce stress such as proper nutrition, exercise and a healthy sleep schedule. This also includes avoiding behaviors that can contribute to stress and depression, such as the use of alcohol or recreational drugs.
  
  

Counseling and Therapy

• Individual, group and family counseling can help people with depression as they learn to manage the illness. Counselors monitor a client's mood and functioning as they work through a depressive episode. A counselor should evaluate the current condition of any new client and work with the individual to plan a course of treatment and clear treatment goals. There is no set time period for counseling.
  
  

Alternative Treatments

• Acupuncture, meditation and herbal therapies are all used to treat depression. Many people use a combination of therapies to help alleviate low mood, anxiety or sleep problems. According to doctors at the Mayo Clinic, these methods can be used in conjunction with more conventional medical methods.
  
  

Medications

• Antidepressant medications are used to treat chemical imbalances in the brain that cause low mood, anxiety and pervasive sadness that is associated with depressive illness. Patients may take these medications for short-term treatment during a serious depressive episode or they may use the medications long-term.
  
  The individual response to medications varies widely, and patients often do not feel the full effects of the medication for 12 weeks. The decision to use an antidepressant medication must be made in consultation with a medical doctor, and most experts agree that medication is most effectively used when it is paired with counseling, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
  
  

Considerations

• The causes and affects of depression can vary widely, so there is no one set treatment method or time frame for treatment. Many patients must explore a variety of solutions to discover which works best for them, and for those who experience recurring episodes of depression, on-going management techniques are essential.