Coping with Long-Term Depression
Although depression is no longer considered as a “woman’s disease,” it is true that more women than men suffer from depression due to hormone changes. It is essential for those coping with depression that if a person has had one episode, he or she should stay on an SSRI for a full year, until the depression goes into full, sustained remission. Then the patient will be gradually weaned off the medication; if symptoms begin to return, the medication is reinstated.
Many people have one episode of depression and never have another one after medication is discontinued. However, for middle-aged menopausal women who have two episodes that resolve with medication, they have at least an 80% chance of having another episode. A large part of coping with depression is accepting that it could be a life-long problem requiring continuous medication. This is no different from taking daily hypertension medication or a multi-vitamin.
Along with medications, coping with depression is made much easier with psychotherapy. In therapy, patients have the opportunity to discuss life events that may contribute to their depression or impede their recovery. Physicians recommend that medication be combined with therapy for the best results possible.
