Credible Sources of Information are listed in each section.
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the U.S., affecting how people feel, think, and function. I’ve seen its impact firsthand in my own family. It causes emotional and physical pain — not just for those who live with it, but for the people who love them, too.
Symptoms range from fatigue and sleep changes to hopelessness and suicidal thoughts. Anger and irritability are also common but often overlooked. A diagnosis requires symptoms to last at least two weeks, but episodes can stretch on for months or longer. (Source: What is depression? NIMH)
Depression is linked to higher health care costs and conditions like heart disease and diabetes. It’s also a major risk factor for suicide.
This isn’t just a case of the blues, and it’s not something you can “snap out of.” It often requires long-term care, but the good news is, it’s treatable. No one-size-fits-all solution exists, and what works for one person may not work for another. Today, we have more options, from traditional therapies to new and emerging treatments.
Here’s a look at some of the most widely used and promising approaches. These are not all the approaches, but ones I’ve heard the most about over the years, and some that my son, Charles, tried to treat his depression. This list doesn’t include medications used off-label, as there are too many to cover. As with any medical decision, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider or licensed counselor to determine what might work best for you or your loved one.
Medication (Antidepressants)
SSRIs and SNRIs were first introduced in the late 1980s and approved by the FDA in 1987. Around the 90s, this class of drugs marked a turning point in treatment, both medically and socially. SSRIs can be prescribed by primary care doctors, helping to mainstream depression treatment outside of psychiatry. This contributed to a dramatic increase in access to mental health treatment starting in the 1990s and 2000s. SSRIs transformed depression treatment by making it safer, more accessible, more accepted, and with fewer side effects than older medications.
Antidepressants help regulate brain chemicals linked to mood, and some can be used effectively to treat OCD, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, PTSD, and panic disorder.
Common classes include:
• SSRIs, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (e.g., Prozac, Zoloft)
• SNRIs, Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (e.g., Effexor, Cymbalta)
• Atypical antidepressants, tricyclics, and MAOIs in more specific cases. (These are the older antidepressants.)
Finding the right medication often takes time and may involve trial and error. Most take a few weeks to start working.
Author’s Point of View: I have seen SSRIs make a big difference in someone being able to participate in therapy. Therapy and medication can work well together. I have also seen serious side effects with one, and then someone tries something else, and that one works with fewer or more tolerable side effects. Please. Always titrate on and off these medications. When I say titrate, it means slowly wean yourself on or off with the oversight of a medical provider, because not doing so can activate thoughts of suicide. It’s a shame that the process of finding the right one is so cumbersome and sometimes frightening. But never feel shame for needing to take something for a serious health condition.
Sources
- Overview and impact: Mayo Clinic — Antidepressants: SSRIs
- Mayo Clinic – SNRI Overview
ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy)
A Brain Stimulation Therapy
The FDA has cleared ECT to treat severe depressive episodes in people 13 years and older with depression or bipolar disorder. In some cases, ECT has also been used to treat schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and mania.
ECT is one of the most effective treatments for severe or treatment-resistant depression, especially when suicidal thoughts are present. Administered under anesthesia, it involves brief electrical stimulation of the brain. While stigma lingers, modern ECT is safe and well-monitored, though short-term memory issues can occur that go away with time, unlike the old days when memory problems lingered.
Author Point of View: I have watched this work. Someone I know was in a deep state of depression and starving herself to death. Not really consciously. Her partner tried everything, and ECT was one of the last options to try, and the transformation was phenomenal. Within a month, this female, who had been down to 80 pounds, rebounded to 100 pounds and was attending events again. The ECT was literally a lifesaver.
Sources:
- Mayo Clinic: ECT Overview
- Brain Stimulation Therapies NIMH
TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)
A Brain Stimulation Therapy
TMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood regulation. It’s non-invasive, FDA-approved, and often used when other treatments haven’t worked. Sessions are done in a clinical setting over several weeks.
- Mayo Clinic: ECT Overview
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): ECT Facts
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)
A Brain Stimulation Therapy
For people with chronic, treatment-resistant depression, VNS may be an option. A device implanted under the skin sends mild electrical pulses to the vagus nerve, one of the 12 cranial nerves in your brain, helping regulate mood over time.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic: Vagus Nerve Stimulation
- Brain Stimulation Therapies NIMH
Talk Therapy (Psychotherapy) & Group Therapy
Therapy can be highly effective — sometimes even more so than medication for certain individuals. Used in combination with medication, it can be a game-changer and vastly improve quality of life.
Approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on changing negative thought patterns
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Helps improve relationships and communication
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores past experiences and unconscious processes
- Peer Support and Group Therapy- Connecting with others who understand depression can reduce isolation and build hope. Group therapy provides structured support, while peer groups offer validation and shared coping strategies.
- Many people benefit from a combination of medication and therapy.
Sources
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Originally developed for PTSD, EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories using guided eye movements. It’s especially effective for people whose depression is rooted in trauma or adverse life experiences.
Sources
- APA (American Psychological Association): EMDR for PTSD
- EMDR Institute: Research on EMDR
Ketamine and Esketamine (Spravato)
Warning. This is a drug that can be misused and become addictive to some, but for others, it can be a lifesaver.
The effectiveness of ketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) was first demonstrated for short-term treatment, especially for those experiencing suicidal thoughts. And it’s still used that way. Ketamine is given as an IV infusion, while esketamine is a nasal spray approved for TRD.
Relief can come within hours or days, offering hope for those who haven’t responded to other treatments.
There is also Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), a mental health treatment method that involves using ketamine’s trance-inducing and pain-relieving properties in addition to a skilled therapist to help individuals with treatment-resistant depression. As with anything new, monitor if this is right for you and look for providers who have gotten additional education on using it as a treatment.
For years, researchers have explored psychedelic substances like psilocybin (found in “magic mushrooms”) and MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy) as potential tools in mental health treatment, particularly in combination with therapy. While ketamine has more clinical backing and FDA approval for treatment-resistant depression, the data on other psychedelics is still early, limited, and often hyped. Despite this, there’s a growing industry push to commercialize these substances, sometimes promoting them as miracle cures before the science supports such claims. For many, this feels less like innovation and more like a new way to sell drugs to make a profit under the banner of mental health.
Sources:
- NIMH: Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression
- Harvard Health: Ketamine for treatment-resistant depression: When and where is it safe?
Lifestyle-Based Interventions
These approaches can complement other treatments and boost overall well-being:
- Exercise: Regular movement improves mood and reduces symptoms
- Nutrition: Diets rich in whole foods and Omega-3s support brain health
- Sleep: Quality sleep is essential for mood regulation
- Connection: Isolating is not good for our mental health. Connection is good for it.
- Sunlight or light therapy: Effective for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Sources
- Exercise and depression:
- Harvard Health: Exercise and Depression
- Diet:
- Sleep and sunlight:
Self-Help Tools and Mental Health Apps
Digital tools can supplement care by helping users track moods, practice coping strategies, or work through CBT-based exercises. Apps like MoodKit, Headspace, or Woebot offer accessible support between therapy sessions.
Sources:
- APA: Digital mental health tools
- National Institute of Mental Health: Using Technology to Support Mental Health
Final Thoughts
There are some other emerging treatments I haven’t mentioned here because we need more studies, and the jury is still out. Self-medicating with drugs or alcohol usually doesn’t improve depression long term, but can make it worse.
There’s no one right way to treat depression — the best approach depends on each person’s unique needs, history, and response to treatment. Whether you’re exploring options for yourself or a loved one, know that help is available, recovery is possible, and you don’t have to navigate it alone.
How to Recognize Symptoms of Depression
- For those who are curious about their own symptoms
- For those who love someone they suspect may be living with depression
- Signs you’ve read about and signs that are less talked about w/ examples
- What loved ones can say/do to be supportive plus resources
AnneMoss Rogers is a leading wellness and suicide education expert and one of the top mental health speakers and suicide prevention speakers. Known for her powerful, motivational keynotes, AnneMoss combines her personal story of loss with proven strategies to help organizations build a wellness culture that drives results and saves lives. She speaks at conferences, workplaces, K-12 schools, and universities, delivering impactful presentations that inspire change and promote mental health awareness.
AnneMoss does this work in memory of her son, Charles, who struggled with anxiety, depression, and addiction, and died by suicide at age 20 in 2015.
I have been on Sertraline (Zoloft) 7 years in September, my mum took me to see my GP when I was 15, but because I had a history of overdosing on painkillers, they refused to prescribe me anything, it wasn’t until I was 19, that we saw a different GP who prescribed it no bother, I’m now on the maximum dosage of 200mg, which our pharmacist approved, which meant that I didn’t have to speak to the mental health team first to see if it was necessary, I can honestly say that being medicated, although isn’t a cure for my autism, has been not only life changing but saving!
Thank you for your feedback, Cheyenne.
You’re very welcome, AnneMoss. Although I still suffer from suicidal thoughts daily, my life before medication consisted of absconding, self-harming, suicide attempts & welfare checks by the police, I strongly feel that if it wasn’t for medication, I would still be engaging in these things today.
Thank you for the whole picture.
No problem! I replied to your email.
What a brilliant resource to have on hand. This article will no doubt give a lot of encouragement for people suffering from depression but not knowing what may help them.
I particularly like the way that you have added the relevant hyperlinks to each section. There are quite a few that I shall be clicking on so as to read more.
Thank you, Heath for your encouragement. I wish I had known these options and whether they were legit or not. I ask people about each one all the time so I know what has actually worked.