About 21 million American adults suffer from depression. Unfortunately, many of them don’t get early treatment for their symptoms. If it isn’t treated early, depression can cause serious harm to an individual’s mental, social, and physical well-being.
In this blog post, we’ll explore what early intervention is and the benefits of seeking depression counseling early.
What Is Early Intervention?
Early intervention refers to recognizing the symptoms of depression and addressing them promptly before they worsen.
Some activities involved in early intervention include conducting comprehensive mental health assessments, developing treatment plans, and implementing a variety of evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, and medication management.
These activities are usually performed by psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and other mental health professionals at a depression treatment center.
11 Reasons Why It’s Important to Seek Depression Counseling Early
Visiting a depression rehab center early to seek counseling offers many benefits, both immediate and long-term, that can significantly improve a person’s well-being. Here are the key benefits of early depression counseling:
Increased Likelihood of Full Recovery
Individuals who seek early depression counseling are more likely to achieve a complete recovery and experience fewer relapses compared to those who put off treatment. Since depression affects the brain, early intervention can prevent adverse psychological changes to the brain’s structure, which can make it harder to treat depression.
Reduced Recurrence of Future Episodes
Depression often returns if left untreated. Seeking early depression counseling can avert the recurrence of future depressive episodes. By seeking early treatment, individuals can develop healthy coping mechanisms and familiarize themselves with the signs of depression. This can enable them to take immediate action if depressive episodes recur.
For instance, psychotherapy can help individuals detect and deal with unhealthy thought patterns early, preventing them from becoming ingrained and causing severe depression.
Reduced Intensive Treatment
Depression can cause other severe mental and physical health issues, which may require more intensive treatment methods if it isn’t treated early.
Intensive treatment methods are typically reserved for moderate to severe cases of depression that haven’t responded well to psychotherapy or medication. Some common intensive treatment methods include:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): This treatment involves passing a weak electric current through the brain, resulting in a brief seizure.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): This noninvasive treatment uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain, particularly those that affect mood.
- Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS): This treatment involves surgically implanting a device that stimulates the vagus nerve, which affects mood.
- Ketamine treatment: This intervention involves intravenously administering ketamine, an anesthetic that can provide rapid relief from depression symptoms.
Early depression counseling can prevent the need for intense treatments, making treatment less painful and faster.
Reduced Risk of Substance Abuse
Many people struggling with substance abuse disorders (SUDs) also have mental health conditions like depression. According to a 2020 study, about 17 million American adults had an SUD and a mental illness. These individuals are said to have a co-occurring mental disorder.
Seeking early depression counseling can prevent individuals from turning to addictive substances like alcohol, opioids, or heroin to cope with symptoms of depression.
Increased Productivity
Depression can significantly affect performance at work or school as it can impair cognitive functions such as memory, concentration, and decision-making. In fact, individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) have been found to experience cognitive issues up to 94% of the time during depressive episodes.
Seeking early depression counseling can help preserve cognitive abilities and enhance mental clarity, enabling individuals to remain productive at work or school.
Better Relationships
Many individuals battling with depression often become estranged from those close to them. Seeking early depression counseling can help individuals maintain healthy relationships with family, friends, and colleagues.
Additionally, interventions like group therapy can provide a platform for people battling with depression to share their experiences and find a community, which can be integral in preventing feelings of loneliness and helplessness that worsen depression.
Reduced Financial Burden
Seeking late treatment for depression or leaving it untreated can be costly in several ways. First, depression can worsen existing health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, or chronic pain, resulting in increased healthcare costs.
Additionally, depression can result in substantial lost income as it’s estimated people battling with depression miss work twice as often due to illness compared to the general population. This translates into a staggering $44 billion in lost wages annually. Early depression treatment can minimize the economic impact of depression.
Reduced Risk of Suicide
People living with depression are more predisposed to experience suicidal thoughts. In fact, depression causes about 40,000 suicides in the United States annually. Early depression counseling can address recurrent suicidal thoughts, significantly reducing the risk of suicide.
Some warning signs that a depressed person may harbor suicidal thoughts or want to commit suicide include:
- Frequently talking about suicide or death
- Being fixated on death and dying
- Taking unnecessary risks or engaging in impulsive behavior
- Expressing a sense of hopelessness
- Giving away prized possessions
- Sudden withdrawal from friends, family, and social activities
- Preparing for death by unexpectedly making out a will and making funeral arrangements
If you or a loved one showcases any of the above signs and are contemplating suicide, don’t hesitate to seek help. Contact us today to speak to one of our trained counselors or dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Enhanced Overall Health
Depression can significantly impact overall well-being. For instance, a sleep research study found that depressed people may have unusual sleeping patterns and experience issues like insomnia and sleep apnea. Additionally, another study found that over 90% of patients with MDD experienced fatigue. Early depression counseling can improve sleep quality and boost energy levels.
Reduced Worsening of Symptoms
The symptoms of depression can vary from mild to severe, depending on the severity of the depression. However, some common symptoms of depression include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or anxiety
- Sudden loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
- Low energy levels and fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating, recalling things, or making decisions
- Restlessness and irritability
- Increased or decreased appetite, which may cause sudden weight fluctuations
- Experiencing persistent physical health issues that don’t respond to treatment, like headaches, stomachaches, and chronic pain
Early depression treatment can prevent these symptoms from progressing from bad to worse and make depression easier to manage.
Improved Self-Esteem
People living with depression have a low self-opinion of themselves and often blame themselves for their actions when things go wrong. Early depression counseling can help individuals build their self-esteem and confidence. In fact, a 2016 study found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help people battling with depression develop their self-worth.
Seek Depression Counseling Today
Depression can feel like a solitary struggle. But it doesn’t have to be. By seeking depression counseling early, individuals battling with depression can achieve faster recovery and lead healthy, productive lives.
If you think you or a loved one might be suffering from depression, don’t hesitate to reach out to us or visit our depression rehab in Hawaii. At Honu House Hawaii, we have a multidisciplinary team of experts that uses various evidence-based treatments designed to cater to each individual’s unique needs and circumstances.
From psychotherapy to medication, our mental health professionals employ a variety of approaches to help clients overcome depression. Call us now to learn more about our holistic approach to depression treatment and start the journey to recovery today.
FAQs
Can Early Intervention Prevent Depression From Becoming Severe?
Early intervention can prevent depression from becoming severe in many ways. First, it can help manage symptoms before they worsen. It can also help individuals recognize and alter negative thought patterns early, stemming from depression. Finally, early intervention can prevent co-occurring mental issues or physical health complications from going from bad to worse.
Is Depression Genetic?
Some individuals are more predisposed to suffer from depression than others. If you have a biological parent or sibling with depression, you’re at a higher risk of depression. However, many people with a family history of depression never develop the disorder.
Is Depression Curable?
While depression isn’t ”curable” in the traditional sense, like bacterial or viral diseases, many individuals can achieve full recovery and live fulfilling lives with appropriate treatment and management. However, some individuals may experience chronic depression that requires ongoing care, but with the right approaches, they can also experience significant improvements and lead productive lives.
What Are Some Treatment Options for Depression?
There are various treatments for depression, and the most effective approach may vary depending on the severity of the depression and the individual’s needs and preferences.
Some commonly used treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and antidepressants. Generally, most depression treatment plans use multiple treatment methods.
When Should I Seek Depression Counseling?
You should seek depression counseling if you experience multiple symptoms of depression, like persistent feelings of sadness, low energy levels, and suicidal thoughts. Early treatment can prevent your depression symptoms from worsening and help you achieve a faster recovery.
