Sadness is a normal emotion, but feeling sad or hopeless for extended periods of time isn't normal. If you experience chronic feelings of exhaustion and despair, you may have a mental health condition called depression. Depression can adversely impact your state of mind, but the right treatment can help. Depression therapy is a tool used to help people who suffer from depressive symptoms. Here are four things that might be included in your depression treatment. 

1. Talk Therapy

Talk therapy is an effective treatment for depression. Many people with this mental illness feel isolated from others. Having the opportunity to open up and discuss your struggles can be comforting. In talk therapy, your counselor will encourage you to explore the roots of your feelings. They may also suggest changes you can make to improve your symptoms.

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a specific type of therapy used to help people with many different mental disorders. Depression can often cause people to adopt a negative self-image. You may believe that the people in your life don't want you around or that they'd be better off without you. CBT can help you dispel these negative beliefs. Your therapist will encourage you to examine these thoughts, combatting falsehoods with truths. CBT can help people develop healthier ways of viewing themselves and the world.

3. Medication

Medication can be a useful part of depression treatment. Drugs that increase the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, are often effective at reducing depression symptoms. These antidepressants can take several weeks to work, but they can provide relief for people suffering from depression. Medication is especially useful when taken while therapy is ongoing. Antidepressants can help patients feel more stable, which can allow them to work more effectively during their therapy sessions, uncovering feelings that might otherwise be too painful.

4. Emergency Appointments

Depression is a chronic condition that can be managed with appropriate treatment. However, depression can worsen suddenly. Some people find that their symptoms become more severe with no warning, although worsening depression can also be precipitated by a negative life event.

If you need immediate psychiatric help, you can call your counselor to schedule an emergency appointment. Most therapists will strive to accommodate you. If you think that you may be in danger of hurting yourself or someone else, you may be told to visit the nearest emergency room.