When you feel down, depressed, and lack hopefulness, every day can feel like an eternity. Although everyone wants a quick fix, most of us are realistic and know that we did not get to this place of depression overnight and it will not get fixed overnight. There are a number of variables that may determine how long it takes to start improving from depression.
Does Severity of the Depression Impact Outcome?
In an ideal world people would be proactive and take steps to insulate and protect themselves from depression and all sorts of ailments. In reality, many people think, and hope, that things will be better tomorrow or next week. They keep kicking the can down the road waiting for things to improve. Others are stubborn, some people hate asking for help, and some are simply in denial about the fact that they have sunk into a depression. What may have been mild depression at one point can quickly evolve into moderate or even severe depression. The longer we neglect an issue, typically the worse it gets. An untreated physical wound often becomes infected and can become serious. That knock in your car engine can eventually result in a major overhaul of the engine. The more severe the depression, typically the longer it will take to resolve. Severe depression often brings lack of motivation, hopelessness, lethargy, and even suicidal ideation. Mustering energy at this stage is difficult and slow for most.
Do Life Stressors Impact Depression Treatment?
Most counselors and therapists will tell you that we all have a limited bandwidth of resources to work with. The more we spread those resources thin, the less there is to commit to working on improving your depression. Your therapist likely gives you homework to work on but if you are so busy putting out other fires, it will be hard to dedicate the energy needed to work on your depression. Current and active stressors are particularly adept at sapping our energy, focus and drive. Working on depression while you are going through a divorce, trying to find a job so you can pay bills, or dealing with chronic or active medical problems can feel nearly impossible. For many people the intensity and number of stressors have a direct correlation to how rapidly they can improve from their depression. In most cases, the more life stressors on your plate, the longer it may take to improve from depression.
Can My Level of Engagement Affect Improvement from Depression?
In most life endeavors, we get out of it what we put into it. The more you read and study, the better your knowledge and grades will be. The more you exercise, the healthier you are and the more weight you lose. The same holds true for tackling depression. Consistently showing up to your therapy and counseling appointments yields better outcomes than those who miss, forget, or cancel. Doing the homework your therapist gives you will result in greater improvements and outcomes. Being mentally and emotionally vested is also important. Just showing up and expecting your therapist to fix you, will dramatically hamper your results. Just like hiring a personal trainer, they can’t lose weight for you. They are teachers, coaches, and guides to help you do the work successfully and efficiently to help you achieve your goals. The same is true for counseling and therapy. They can lead to a happier and better life, but you have to do the work.
What is the Average Time to See Improvements with Depression?
We cannot ignore the above factors in projecting improvements with depression. That said, most people want an anchor for their expectations around some average. Assuming moderate depression, with average stressors, and moderate level of engagement, it is reasonable to expect some improvements in counseling within 2-4 months and to have significant improvement in 6-12 months. The type of therapy can also impact outcome length and duration. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which focuses largely on modification of faulty and distorted beliefs and perceptions often sees significant improvements in 8-15 sessions. Counseling with a psychodynamic approach often takes longer to achieve the same results. Just keep in mind that depression left untreated tends to get worse, not better. Regardless of your self-assessment on some of these variables, it is important to start taking action now.
If you are interested in counseling or therapy to help with your depression, feel free to contact IPC so you can schedule an appointment with counselor, social workers or psychologists. Please call us now at 763-416-4167, or request an appointment on our website: WWW.IPC-MN.COM so we can sit down with you and complete a thorough assessment and help you develop a plan of action that will work for you. Life is too short to be unhappy. Find the peace of mind you deserve.
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