• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

FHE Health - Addiction & Mental Health Care Homepage

Drug, Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment

ContactCareers

Call for Immediate Help (833) 596-3502

MENUMENU
  • About
        • About FHE Rehab
          • About FHE Health
          • Our Staff
          • Locations We Serve
          • Testimonials
        • Our Campus
          • Gallery
          • Our Videos
          • The Health and Wellness Center at FHE Health
        • Our Locations
          • Alcohol Rehab
          • Detox Center
          • Drug Rehab
          • Mental Health Center
          • Outpatient Rehab
        • Careers at FHE Health
          • Employment Opportunities
        • Our Expertise
          • Accreditations
          • Educational Opportunities
          • Community Impact Award
          • First Responder Families Podcast
          • First Responder Paws
          • Education Scholarship
  • Addiction
        • Treatment Programs
          • Treatment Program Overview
          • Alcohol Addiction
          • Drug Addiction Treatment
          • Behavioral Addiction
        • Levels of Care
          • Continuum of Care
          • Addiction Detox
          • Inpatient Addiction Treatment
          • Outpatient Addiction Treatment
        • What We Treat
          • Alcoholism
          • Amphetamines
          • Benzodiazepines
          • Cocaine
          • Heroin
          • Opioids
          • Sedative
  • Mental Health
        • Mental Health Rehab
          • Mental Health Rehab
          • Onsite Psychiatric Care
          • Dual Diagnosis
        • Levels of Care
          • Residential Mental Health Care
          • Outpatient Mental Health Care
        • What We Treat
          • ADD & ADHD
          • Anxiety Disorders
          • Bipolar Disorder
          • Depression
          • Eating Disorders
          • Personality Disorders
          • PTSD
          • Schizophrenia
          • Substance Use Disorder
          • Trauma
  • Programs
        • FHE Programs
          • Specialty Program Overview
          • Restore (Mental Health)
          • Empower! (Women's Program)
          • Shatterproof FHE Health(First Responders)
          • Compass Program
        • Support Programs
          • Alumni
          • Family Support
        • Therapies
          • Acupuncture
          • Breathwork Therapy
          • CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
          • DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)
          • EMDR Therapy
          • Expressive Arts Therapy
          • Individual Therapy
          • Group Therapy
          • Gambling Therapy
          • Massage
        • Medical Care
          • Medical Integration
          • Ketamine Infusion
          • IV Vitamin
          • Fitness & Nutrition
          • Medication-Assisted Treatment
          • Medication Management
        • NeuroRehab Services
          • Neuro Rehabilitation
          • Neurofeedback Training
          • Neurostimulation Therapy
          • EEG Brain Mapping
          • Insomnia Treatment for PTSD
  • Resources
        • FHE Guides
          • Understanding Drug Abuse
          • Signs of Addiction
          • The Disease of Addiction
          • Confronting Addiction
          • Staging an Intervention
          • Rehab Success Rate – Does It Really Work?
          • Withdrawal Timelines
          • Life After Rehab
          • LGBTQ+ Community Resources
          • Veteran Resources
          • FHE Podcasts
          • Remote Resources Toolkit
        • Learning Center
          • Help for You
          • Help For Loved Ones
          • Help For Alcoholism
          • Help With Substance Abuse
          • Behavioral & Mental Health
          • Life in Recovery
          • Rehab Explained
          • Addiction Statistics
          • Our Research Articles
          • View All Articles
        • The Experience Blog
          • Addiction News
          • Alumni
          • Community Events
          • Expert Opinions
          • FHE Commentary
          • FHE News
          • Treatment Legislation
          • View All Articles
  • Admissions
        • Insurance
          • Blue Cross Insurance
          • Beacon Health / Value Options Insurance
          • Cigna Insurance
          • Humana Insurance
          • TRICARE Insurance
        • Admissions
          • Steps to Addiction Help
          • Will Insurance Cover Behavioral Treatment?
          • Self-Pay Rehab
        • FAQ
          • Keeping Your Job in Rehab
          • Example Day in Rehab
        • Contact Admissions
          • Contact Us
          • Secure Payment Form
  • Contact
  •  
Home > Featured in Mental Health > Does Depression Treatment Work?

January 18, 2022 By Kristina Robb-Dover

Does Depression Treatment Work?

Does Depression Treatment Work

Depression can often feel like a permanent, incurable condition, but that’s far from the truth. Depression is treatable, and there are many different depression treatments that work. Since depression as a condition presents itself differently in people, it’s essential to realize that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, anyone with depression should be examined on an individual level and given a personalized treatment plan that they feel comfortable with. If you are concerned or confused about depression treatment, what follow are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, some of which may be yours.

Does Depression Treatment Work?

Yes, depression treatment works. Where some of the confusion may stem from is that not all types of depression treatments are effective for everyone.

The common types of depression treatment are:

  • Lifestyle changes
  • Depression medication
  • Therapy
  • Inpatient residential treatment

The type of treatment a patient receives depends on various factors such as the type of depression they have, the severity, and the patient’s personal preferences. Patients sometimes need to try different treatments and combinations to find the right solution.

Are Depression Treatments Effective?

Different methods of treatment have varying levels of success overall. Depression is a complex condition that can be caused by many things and present itself in varying levels. The right treatment plan can be worked out with a personal physician and over time with medical supervision. The physician will consider the root causes of the depression, the patient’s comfort level with different treatments, and their responses to those treatments.

Let’s take a look at the depression treatments that work and their effectiveness:

Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes like getting outside more, meditating, interacting with others, and paying attention to food choices can often have a powerful and positive effect. For example, interventional studies have shown that an increase in exercise can help to reduce depression levels.

Of course, for people with severe depression, lifestyle changes alone are often not enough to bring about relief and remission of symptoms. Instead, lifestyle changes in these situations are most beneficial when combined with other depression treatments. Even a complete lifestyle change cannot have the desired effect if there is a chemical imbalance that can only be addressed with medication.

Depression Medication

Wondering “how does depression medicine work?” Depression is a mental condition caused by an imbalance of the neurotransmitters in the brain that affect mood and emotions. Antidepressants target this problem and work to balance neurotransmitters to improve mood, sleep, and concentration levels. In one study, it was found that 40-60 percent of participants with depression who took antidepressants noticed an improvement in their symptoms in six to eight weeks.

A lot of the incorrect assumptions out there about antidepressants have more to do with matching the proper medication to the patient. There are many types and brands of depression medicine available on the market. Each person can have a different reaction to these drugs. It often takes time to find the right medicine and dosage before a patient sees optimal results. Trying depression medication once and writing it off as ineffective is not giving it a fair chance.

Therapy (Psychotherapy, Family, or Couple Counseling)

How does therapy work for depression? Therapy can be a crucial step in identifying the root cause and effective treatment for depression.  There are many different types of therapy, and some patients can benefit from participating in more than just one. For example, family or couple counseling can help address interpersonal issues and help everyone understand how to best support the depressed individual.

Some people are hesitant to try therapy because they are concerned the therapist will force them into a type of depression treatment they are not comfortable with. However, this isn’t the standard approach to counseling a depressed person. A therapist will work with their patient to develop a treatment plan that works for them.

Inpatient Residential Treatment

Some individuals wonder if paying for treatment is worth the cost. However, a better question might be what is the cost of untreated depression. Untreated depression can prevent people from enjoying life and relationships or excelling and moving forward at work. It also can lead to other health problems and costly medical bills.

Most insurance plans cover major costs in depression treatment. Even when looking at the outstanding expenses, individuals should ask themselves what a better future is worth to them. Is there a price tag you can put on happiness?

Is Depression Treatment Worth It?

Some individuals wonder if paying for treatment is worth the cost. However, the better question might be to look at what the cost is of active depression. Active depression can prevent people from excelling and moving forward at work, as well as can lead to other health problems and costly medical bills.

Most insurance plans cover the major costs in treatment. Even when looking at the outstanding costs, individuals might want to ask themselves what a better future is worth to them. Is there a price tag you can put on happiness?

“I’ve Tried Therapy, and It Doesn’t Work.”

A lot of people know someone who swears they’ve tried therapy and it “wasn’t for them.” So, does therapy work for depression? The simple answer is yes. However, therapy can encompass many approaches. Anyone in therapy who is questioning its benefits may wish to consider whether they are in the right type of therapy, with the right counselor, and/or doing the work asked of them outside of sessions.

Some patients may have to try multiple medications before they find the right brand and dosage; the same is true for therapy. Do not expect that the first therapist you try will be just the right fit. It may take some time experimenting with different therapists to find the right one.

Additionally, patients should also ask themselves if they are in the right type of therapy. Individual psychotherapy is often the first go-to. Still, some patients may experience better results from group therapy, where they can draw on the collective support of others.

Individuals should also ask themselves if they expect too much from therapy alone. Therapy is often one part of a comprehensive depression treatment plan. Patients may also need to simultaneously address their physical and medical care, lifestyle, and other individual needs.

What About Treatment-Resistant Depression?

Most people will see an improvement in their symptoms from the depression treatments listed above. However, some people have “treatment-resistant depression.” With this type of depression, the standard depression treatments that work may have little to no impact on the patient.

Treatment-resistant depression may sound hopeless, but there are psychotherapy strategies, neuro therapies, and other options that can provide relief.

Depression is highly treatable, starting with a personalized treatment plan that fits your needs and lifestyle. For more information about how to feel better soon, contact FHE Health today at (844) 299–618.

Filed Under: Featured in Mental Health, Behavioral & Mental Health

About Kristina Robb-Dover

Kristina Robb-Dover is a content manager and writer with extensive editing and writing experience... read more

Primary Sidebar

Learning Center

  • Help for You
  • Help For Loved Ones
  • Help For Alcoholism
  • Help With Substance Abuse
  • Behavioral & Mental Health
  • Life in Recovery
  • Rehab Explained
  • All Articles

Sign up for the Blog

Our Facilities

Take a look at our state of the art treatment center.

View Our Gallery

The Experience Blog

  • Addiction News
  • Alumni
  • Community Events
  • Expert Columns
  • FHE Commentary
  • FHE News
  • Treatment Legislation
  • All Articles

Footer

FHE Health

© 2025 FHE Health

505 S Federal Hwy #2,
Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441
1-833-596-3502
youtube facebook instagram linkedin twitter
  • Contact
  • Careers at FHE Health
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
A+ BBB and Top Places to Work - Sun Sentinel

Copyright © 2025 · FHE Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}

The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. If one of our articles is marked with a ‘reviewed for accuracy and expertise’ badge, it indicates that one or more members of our team of doctors and clinicians have reviewed the article further to ensure accuracy. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.

If there are any concerns about content we have published, please reach out to us at marketing@fhehealth.com.

833-596-3502

Text/Call Me