Depression: What It Is and What You Can Do About It

There are three basic ways to treat depression: psychotherapy, self-help, and medication. Many people respond best to a combination of two or more methods.

Psychotherapy: Exploring one’s beliefs and ways of thinking, and learning new ways of thinking and behaving, with the guidance of a professional. Self-help: Exploring one’s beliefs and ways of thinking on one’s own. Medication: Altering one’s brain chemistry by taking antidepressant medication.