• Depression

How to Manage Symptoms of Depression

Published: July 07, 2025
Updated: July 07, 2025
4 mins

No matter how old you are, it’s possible to begin experiencing symptoms of depression at any stage in your life. A traumatic event in your life does not always trigger depression. Sometimes it can start suddenly when you least expect it on an ordinary day. 

Depression is more than just occasional feelings of sadness; it can make it difficult to get through everyday tasks. You may experience depression symptoms the strongest during the winter months when people tend to spend more time in darkness and away from loved ones.

If you have people in your life with depression or you have depression yourself, it’s important to try your best to act with empathy towards yourself and others when experiencing symptoms of depression.

What are the Common Signs of Depression?

The clinical term for depression is major depressive disorder. Typically, a healthcare provider may diagnose you with depression if you experience five or more of the following symptoms:

• Loss of interest in pleasurable activities

• Restlessness 

• Trouble sleeping

• Fatigue

• Excessive guilt

• Loss of appetite

Severe symptoms like suicidal thoughts and self-harm require immediate medical attention. Be sure to reach out for help if you see signs of self-harm in a loved one or are having thoughts yourself. 

Some symptoms of depression may mimic other mental health conditions, but a mental healthcare provider can assess you to verify that you’re experiencing symptoms of depression.

What are the Treatment Options for Depression?

When you have been diagnosed with depression, a healthcare provider will develop a treatment plan for you based on the severity of your symptoms. Treatment for depression can be a combination of the following:

• Starting therapy with a mental health professional

• Receiving prescription antidepressants

• Communicating more with loved ones

• Incorporating more mindfulness into your life

Over time, your treatment may change as you get older or as you have major changes in your life. While some herbal treatments like St. John’s wort may help you manage depression symptoms, be sure to discuss the use of natural remedies with your healthcare provider.

Does Therapy Work for Depression?

Psychotherapy (also referred to as talk therapy) is a common practice for those with mild, moderate, and severe depression. Traditional therapy may work better for some people than it does for others. There are several different types of psychotherapy designed to help manage your depression if you find that traditional talk therapy doesn’t work for you.

A mental healthcare provider can help you determine which one of these therapy options may work best for you:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): A form of therapy that aims to break patterns of self-doubt and guilt by working with a therapist to have a clearer understanding of your behavioral patterns and how to change false beliefs about yourself and your environment.

• Systemic therapy: During a systemic therapy session, a healthcare provider will focus more on your relationship with those around you. They may ask you to think more deeply about your relationship with family and friends. This form of therapy may also involve group sessions with loved ones.

• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): If you are having trouble seeing yourself in a positive light, this form of therapy helps those with depression work on negative thoughts about the self.

If you’re concerned about the cost of therapy, community centers and student training programs offer discounts for therapy. Some therapists also offer treatment on a sliding scale, where you can pay based on your financial circumstances.

Medications for Managing Depression

Antidepressants are a common first-line of treatment for depression in adults. Most antidepressants alter levels of serotonin and norepinephrine and enhance monoamine neurotransmission in the brain to treat depression. When you start antidepressants, a healthcare provider may recommend coming in for a few visits to monitor how well your prescription is working.

The following are common medications for depression:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

• Tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants

• Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

• Atypical antidepressants

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

• N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist (NMDA)

• Neuroactive steroid gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-A receptor positive modulator

Healthcare providers recommend slightly different medications for young children and teens. Prozac (fluoxetine) and Lexapro (escitalopram) are the most popular medications FDA-approved for treating depression in teens. 

Some antidepressants may lead to more side effects than others. A healthcare provider may recommend a different antidepressant if your original medication causes too many side effects.

Does Ketamine Treatment Work for Depression?

Depression changes the chemical makeup of the brain. Ketamine is a psychedelic medication that can help neurons communicate with each other. In 2019, the FDA approved the use of ketamine nasal spray for short-term depression treatment. However, ketamine is not typically used as the first treatment option for depression.

For safety purposes, ketamine dosages must always be administered in the presence of licensed healthcare professionals. Most treatments involve around six to eight low-dose treatments over the course of days. Ketamine treatment works a lot faster than antidepressants. Instead of working within a couple of days, you can start to feel the effects right away. 

However, ketamine treatment may not be suitable for those with a history of substance use disorder, teenagers, pregnant individuals, or those with psychosis or schizophrenia. 

Tips for Managing Depression at Home

For those with depression, symptoms can often worsen in the fall and winter months. Seasonal affective disorder, also known as seasonal depression, occurs in the wintertime when there’s a lack of sunlight.

Health experts have found that bright light therapy may be an effective form of seasonal depression treatment. In one study, health experts exposed participants to bright white, full-spectrum fluorescent light for three hours at dawn and three hours at dusk over two weeks. Participants saw significant improvements in depressive symptoms.

Having tools like a seasonal depression lamp in your home can help make up for some of the lack of sunlight and vitamin D in the winter months. A sun lamp can potentially improve your mood. However, it’s important to meet with a mental health professional about treatment first.

Incorporating the following healthy mental health practices year-round may also help you manage your depression:

• Journaling every night

• Get at least eight hours of sleep each night

• Prioritize activities you love to do in your free time

• Stay connected by calling family and friends

• Participating in physical activity like jogging, swimming, and hiking

• Consider engaging in meditation for a couple of minutes a day

Where Can I Learn More About Managing Depression?

Once you have been diagnosed with depression, it takes time to understand the best mode of treatment for you. With LifeMD, a licensed healthcare provider can help you understand more about your treatment options and how to live with depression. 

LifeMD-affiliated healthcare providers can prescribe FDA-approved medications for depression like Prozac (fluoxetine), Wellbutrin (bupropion), and Lexapro (escitalopram), if appropriate. 

Get started today by learning more about how to best put your mental health first.

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