What To Do When Depression Medication Makes You Feel Worse

When it comes to depression most people look for a quick fix - a way that they can instantly improve their mood. It’s very common for people with depression to request antidepressants from their doctors without fully understanding the potential side effects. The medication is meant to help address their symptoms and make daily life more enjoyable. This isn't always the outcome. Some people find themselves disappointed that they don’t have an immediate change in mood, or that the medication doesn’t even work for them, which can leave them feeling hopeless. For others, they feel like they’re living life sedated, making them fall deeper into depression. For others it can be a miracle, helping them to get back into the groove of things and become more engaged in life. But if you are one of the people who can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel you may be feeling like there is nothing else you can do.Thankfully, this is not the case. As a therapist, I have come to learn the best ways to tackle depression when medication doesn’t work from battling through the waiting period to starting a schedule. If you think you need some help, then read on to learn what you can do to help quicken this process.Talk to Your Doctor About the Treatment PlanBefore you throw away your antidepressants away, speak to your doctor about the treatment plan you are on. The doctor will be able to tell you the pros and cons of your medication and whether or not you can use another one in combination or if you are better suited to another drug. Your current medication could be causing more negative side effects that are deepening your depression rather than relieving them. By telling your doctor this, they can switch your prescription to another antidepressant.It’s good to go into your appointment prepared, so you don’t forget to ask the doctor anything important. You may want to ask him questions like how long will the medication take to work and when will the side effects begin? Knowing this can make understanding your emotions much easier as you can differentiate between side effects and pre-existing feelings and be more aware when the positive results from the medication will kick-in. Doctors will also be able to provide tips for managing the side effects which can help to reduce the depressive thoughts and feelings as well as tackle weight and health issues. If you don’t want to walk around in life feeling depressed because you think your antidepressants aren’t working or that they are making you worse, asking your doctor these questions is vital.Give it Some Time to WorkYou can’t expect antidepressant medication to work overnight. Or even in a handful of days. Medication like this can take several weeks to start affecting your mood and behaviour. Some can start sooner than others, so if you have an issue with the long wait making you feel worse, contacting your doctor to switch drugs can be a good option. Generally, though, it will take some time for the brain chemicals associated with mood to alter with the use of drugs. Some medications are even started at lower doses to see if there are any unacceptable side effects in the patient. From then, they are slowly increased to a dose that is effective with minimal to no side effects. Keeping in contact with your doctor during this time can help to maintain a healthy and open communication system that makes understanding the drugs you are on much easier.Try to Tackle the Causes of Your DepressionIf you feel that your antidepressant medication isn’t working, the side-effects are too extreme, or you are looking for a more holistic option, then you should look for ways that you can tackle the causes of your depression without drugs. Creating a schedule for yourself can help you to get more involved in the outside world and take your mind off depressive thoughts. Often, when depressed, people tend to avoid friends and family and stay indoors as much as they can. Getting out of bed in the morning can be like climbing a mountain and facing the day ahead can feel scary and exhausting. But, if you create a routine that includes times to wake up and go to sleep, showering, socialising and regular exercise, these things will eventually become enjoyable again. If you are looking for ways to support the antidepressants and help improve their effectiveness, making and sticking to a routine can be a great way to further distract you from negative thoughts and improve your quality of life. This can also help in the future when you are looking to reduce your dosage as you are changing your lifestyle to keep your uplifted mood permanent. A healthy lifestyle can make a huge difference.Visit a CounsellorDepression can often leave people facing very harmful and damaging thoughts and emotions alone. Many people feel like they can’t connect with others or tell them about their issues because they might not care or could judge them. Or at least that's what the nagging depressive voice inside tells them. Here is where a counsellor can help. You can visit a counsellor either as a replacement or to accompany medication, as it can speed up recovery and help you to feel better sooner.Counsellors will be able to help you find the cause of your depression and tackle it from there outwards. With your honest and open communication, they can help you understand why you have depression and where it began. Knowing this, creating tips for tackling the symptoms become much easier as you can avoid triggers and people who have a negative impact on your mood. Even when you understand your depression, subsequent appointments can help monitor and track your progress as well as stop depressive flare-ups before they become too intense. Counsellors can also use the information they gather to advise you when you come in with new issues or problems related to your depression, work or family life to name a few. And, even when your depression passes, they can be useful for anxiety or stress related issues that still make daily life difficult.Just because your medication doesn't seem to be working doesn’t mean you should give up. Speaking to your doctor can help you to understand how long it should be until you see a change in your mood or if you need to switch drugs. Even if then the medication doesn’t work you can focus on trying to tackle the symptoms yourself by creating a routine or visiting a counsellor. If you are interested in learning more about therapy for depression, then contact me today for more information. I am a highly experienced counsellor based in Stretton near Warrington and specialise in helping people in situations like yours.