Depression, even in its most severe form, is highly treatable.
Early Treatment Is More Effective
As with many illnesses, getting treatment early is more effective and reduces the chance of recurrence. And because it often co-occurs with other illnesses in older adults, untreated depression may delay recovery from or worsen the outcome of other illnesses. It is important to remember that a person with depression cannot simply "snap out of it."
Be Persistent
Treatment choices differ for each person, and sometimes different treatments must be tried until one works for a particular person. It is important to keep trying until you find something that works for you.
The most common forms of treatment for depression are medication and psychotherapy. For cases in which medication and/or psychotherapy does not help relieve symptoms of depression, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be useful.
