The importance of professional help

Professional intervention is a fundamental pillar in the treatment of depression. When symptoms persist over time or significantly interfere with daily life, therapeutic support becomes necessary.

Depression does not usually resolve on its own with willpower alone, and psychological and/or psychiatric support allows the cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and biological aspects involved to be addressed.

When to seek help: warning signs

The most common clinical indicators that warrant seeking professional help include: persistent sadness, feelings of emptiness, irritability, loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities, persistent fatigue, sleep and appetite disturbances, difficulty concentrating, and recurring negative thoughts about oneself, one's environment, or the future.

When these symptoms persist for at least two weeks and affect functioning, they are considered to correspond to a depressive episode. The presence of suicidal ideation, even without overt intent, is an urgent reason to seek help.

Scientifically supported psychological therapies: CBT, BA, ACT, IPT

Empirical evidence has identified several effective therapies for treating depression. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying thought distortions and modifying behavioral patterns that maintain distress.

Behavioral Activation (BA), on the other hand, seeks to counteract inertia and loss of pleasure by scheduling rewarding activities. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches patients to observe their thoughts without getting carried away by them, promoting action guided by personal values.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) aims to improve the patient's relational environment by addressing conflicts, life transitions, and unresolved grief. All of these modalities are internationally scientifically supported and recommended in clinical treatment guidelines for depression.

Care with self-medication: proper use of medications

Drug treatment may be necessary in certain cases, especially when symptoms are moderate or severe.

However, it should only be prescribed by trained professionals, such as psychiatrists or general practitioners with training in mental health. Self-medication with antidepressants or anxiolytics, as well as abrupt discontinuation of treatment, can have adverse effects and increase the risk of relapse.

Medications usually take time to work and should be administered according to a controlled and supervised regimen. In all cases, a comprehensive approach—combining psychological and pharmacological treatment based on clinical assessment—offers better results than either of these interventions alone.

The therapeutic process as guidance and support

The psychotherapeutic approach not only provides techniques to modify dysfunctional thoughts or promote healthy behaviors, but also offers emotional support, structure, and ongoing accompaniment. Often, people with depression are trapped in automatic patterns of thinking that are experienced as unquestionable truths.

Through the therapeutic process, they learn to recognize these mental contents as passing events, not absolute realities. It also promotes cognitive defusion, that is, the ability to distance oneself from negative ideas without them determining behavior.

The therapeutic bond and the space for listening also allow us to work with blocked emotions, validate discomfort, and generate adaptive strategies for dealing with psychological suffering. Therefore, professional treatment not only acts as a technique, but also as a support and guide to reactivate the person's emotional and functional life.