hi gang, in 1990 i had my first major depressive episode that needed medication. I was given prozac by my doctor and a strange stagiere for ~12 weeks. he wanted to be cool and friendly - i was miserable and saw him as plain strange. He tried to help me with issues of self-esteem but my true trigger was a new relationship that was not as i wanted it... and i was hiding this because it seemed so petty. it did not go well! 1990 till 2005 I was seeing a soc-worker/therapist to deal with the first signs of a depressive episode. I saw her after a miscarriage that was hard on me... my baby died at 8.5 weeks of gestation but had a sponanious abortion at 12 weeks... i carried my dead baby 4 weeks. i killed my precious alexis for 3 months and killed him (i did not know it's sex but needed to name him). Anyways this therapist was wonderful ... she listened and returned my words with a bit if explanations. she taught me to recognise how i think and how to recognise my ruts and circles that move towards depression. in 2005 my third major depressive episode came and i wanted no more. so I put myself on the waiting lists and tried to get my life somewhere stable. at 5 months I was hooked up with my present psychologist. And she is great, she laughs with me and i see her eyes well up with tears when i expess my pain. i feel good talking to this woman, she is teaching me to look at my feelings; to trust what they are saying without letting them take over (intensity). she is teaching me that i have an illness and that there are symptomes that tell me something. i have to recognise the symptomes and trust that they signal a change in my state (not that i am a lazy loser that is worthless). so psych therapie has been great for me these past years! i have learned that fear, pain, anger are normal parts of being human, and that i can control them. i will not turn into a homicidal psycopath. i have learned that joy, accomplishment, pleasure are not rewards for the normal and deserving they are positive states that need to be recognised and appreciated because they are part of psycological and physical healing!

Members, Psychotherapy for depression works. Psychotherapy for depression works at least as well as medication and may be better than medication at preventing recurrence. There is now also an effective psychotherapy for those with chronic depression that has lasted for years. A combination of medication and psychotherapy may be the most effective treatment for many people. Self-Help and Support Groups Self-help and support groups are the least expensive approach to managing depression, and are very helpful for some people. A group of about 5 to 10 people meet weekly and share their experiences, encouraging each other to cope effectively with their depression. Group members are in charge of the sessions. Often family members are invited to attend these groups, and at times a therapist or other depression expert may be brought in to share insights with group members. Psychotherapies for Major Depressive Disorder A lot of evidence shows the effectiveness of two types of short-term (10 to 20 weeks) psychotherapy. More specifically, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) have been found helpful for major depression. More recently, Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) has emerged as an effective treatment for chronic depression and dysthymia. Cognitive Behavioral Therapists focus on changing behavior, thinking, and mood. According to CBT theory, our thoughts, moods and behaviors are all closely related. Put simply, how we think and what we do effects how we feel. CBT therapists help patients to change the negative styles of thinking and behaving often associated with depression. Interpersonal Therapists focus on relationships. According to IPT theory, regardless of what causes depression, depression is associated with loss, life changes and lack of close and supportive social relationships. The focus of therapy is to improve the patient's personal relationships by changing the patterns of behavior in those relationships. Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) is a research-based psychotherapy that combines Cognitive and Interpersonal principles. CBASP was designed to help motivate patients to change their behavior and achieve their desired outcome in life. The emphasis in therapy is on helping people build new problem-solving and relationship skills. Research has shown CBASP to be just as effective as medication treatment in a large sample of chronically depressed patients. Even more impressive is that in that study 85% of chronically depressed people who received a combination of CBASP and medication therapies responded to treatment and some of those who responded had been depressed for over 20 years! What has your experience with psychotherapy been like? Danielle, Bilingual Health Educator