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Many people feel embarrassed to ask for help with depression symptoms, but you don’t have to be ashamed. Depression is avery common condition, and your doctor is already quite familiar with it. It will not seem strange or shameful in any way to your doctor that you are feeling depressed.
How to Discuss Your Depression With a DoctorShare your symptoms.Avoid minimizing feelings.Be open about medications you’re taking.Ask for a referral.
How to Discuss Your Depression With a Doctor
Share your symptoms.Avoid minimizing feelings.Be open about medications you’re taking.Ask for a referral.
Some insurance plans require that you see a primary physician first in order to obtain a referral to a more specialized mental health care provider, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. So, having that initial conversation is important.
This article provides helpful tips that will help you begin a conversation about your depression or anxiety with a doctor. It also covers diagnostic tests a doctor may perform as well as common depression treatments.
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What Kind of Doctor Should You See for Your Depression?
How to Talk to Your Doctor About Depression
Remember, getting started is usually the hardest part. Once you get the conversation going, it may easier to open up about your depression symptoms in more detail.
Practice Your Opening Line
Some doctors are intuitive and may detect that you’re not feeling like yourself without you needing to say anything. However, most of the time, you’ll have to bring up your emotional state on your own. While some doctors will inquire about your mental state, others will not.
Try reciting out loud what you’re going to say to a doctor beforehand. This can help calm your nerves and prevent the “blanking out” that sometimes happens when the time comes to speak up.
How to Start the ConversationTell your doctor that you haven’t been feeling like yourself and you believe that you might be depressed. This will open the door for your doctor to get you the help that you need.
How to Start the Conversation
Tell your doctor that you haven’t been feeling like yourself and you believe that you might be depressed. This will open the door for your doctor to get you the help that you need.
The following are some examples of what you might say:
Research Depression Symptoms
It’s not necessary to perform research prior to a doctor’s appointment. However, doing a quick online search of common depression symptoms may help you put into words what you’ve been experiencing, making it easier to speak to a doctor about your experience.
You may share something like:
Keep a Journal
Try keeping a journal or taking notes in your phone on what your symptoms are, when you experience them, how long they last, what seems to help relieve them (if anything), and any other life stressors or triggers you feel are contributing to your depression symptoms.
Feel free to bring your symptoms journal to a doctor’s appointment. The most important thing is being able to communicate what’s going on to the doctor, and consulting your notes can help you do just that.
Avoid Minimizing Your Feelings
It is important to be up-front about your symptoms. Don’t dismiss or minimize what you’ve been experiencing. Even mild symptoms of depression can disrupt your life, and can often grow worse over time if left untreated.
You might say something such as:
Ask for a Referral
If you feel like you need to see a therapist or psychiatrist for additional treatments, ask your doctor for a referral. While your primary care physician can prescribe medications such as antidepressants, you will need to see a therapist for additional treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
To ask for a referral, you might say:
The treatment that will work best for you depends in part on your specific diagnosis. Your doctor will consider this information when referring you to a mental health professional for further evaluation and treatment.
Reassure Yourself
Find ways to manage stress and reassure yourself in the time leading up to your appointment. Relaxation techniques you might practice includemindfulness,deep breathing, andmeditation.
Some people don’t communicate because they’re concerned with being a “good patient” or they’re embarrassed. Be honest with your doctor so that you get the care that you need.
In addition, you don’t need to worry about your friends, family, or employer finding out about your depression. The HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Privacy Rule prevents your physician from disclosing your private medical information without your permission.
If Necessary, Ask Another Doctor
If your doctor doesn’t displayempathy, does not seem to listen, and does not ask questions, you should consider seeing another doctor. People are more likely to share how they feel when their doctor shows concern and genuine empathy.
You might talk to a different doctor or even another type of medical or mental health professional such as a social worker, a counselor in a mental health center, or an ER doctor if it is an emergency.
Trust yourself; you know yourself best. If your doctor dismisses your concerns, keep advocating for yourself to ensure that you get the care that you need.
Manage Expectations
Treatment for depression takes time, so it is important to have realistic expectations. If your doctor prescribes antidepressants, it can take several weeks before you start to notice a difference in how you feel.
4:33Watch Now: 7 Most Common Types of Depression
4:33
Watch Now: 7 Most Common Types of Depression
What to Expect
Before you talk to your doctor about your depression or anxiety, it can be helpful to know what to expect from the diagnostic process. Your doctor may use a number of different sources of information to learn more about your symptoms and evaluate your condition.
Unfortunately, there isn’t currently a definitive lab test that can be used to diagnose depression so your doctor will do a few things.
A doctor may also help yourule outother medical conditions—such asvitamin and mineral deficiencies, hormonal changes, and thyroid conditions that may cause symptoms similar to depression.
It’s also possible that your depressed feelings could be the result of medication side effects or some other cause. Be honest with a doctor about any medications you are taking.
First, your doctor will perform a physical exam and run several differentblood teststo rule out other conditions that might be causing your symptoms. Some of the possible tests might include:
Assessment of Risk Factors
Next, your doctor may ask you some questions to determine whether you have any possible risk factors for depression. Some of the knownrisk factors for depressioninclude:
Questions About Your Symptoms
In addition, your doctor may ask you about what symptoms you are experiencing. Among the symptoms they might ask you about are:
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Doctor’s Observations
Your doctor will supplement all of the information that you provide with their own observations of your behavior. People with depression often exhibit the following signs:
The Warning Signs of Depression
If your doctor has ruled out other possible causes for how you are feeling and feels that your symptoms and history are indicative of depression, they will either opt to treat you using antidepressant medications or they may instead refer you to a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist or psychotherapist (or both).
Psychiatristshave specialized training and expertise in using medications to treat depression and mental illness while psychotherapists specialize in using talk therapy to help you with your depression.
A combination of therapy and medication is often the best way to treat depression.
Psychotherapy
There are a number of different types of psychotherapy that can be effective in the treatment of depression.
Medications
Your doctor or psychiatrist may also prescribe some type of medication to treat your depression. Some of the different types of antidepressants that your doctor or psychiatrist may prescribe include:
Antidepressants usually begin to work within two to four weeks, although it may take as long as 12 weeks for them to reach full effectiveness.
Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Complementary medicine may also have beneficial effects on well-being when used in conjunction with psychotherapy and medication.Acupuncture, meditation,light therapy, and herbal supplements are some alternative options that you might consider.
You should always talk to your doctor before you try any type of alternative treatment. In the case of some herbal supplements, for example, you and your doctor need to consider possible drug interactions if you are currently taking or plan on taking antidepressants.
The 5 Types of Antidepressants
Self-care is an important part of coping with depression. There are a number of things that you can do that will complement your treatment plan. Here is an overview of what you can while getting treatment for depression.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Research has found that there is a complexrelationship between sleep and depression. Sleep disturbances are common symptoms of depression, and studies suggest that there may be a reciprocal relationship between them.
Poor sleep increases the risk of depression, and depression then leads to an increased risk of reduced sleep quality.
Exercise Regularly
Research suggests that regular physical activity can be effective in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. In more moderate to severe cases, exercise can be a beneficial complement to medication and therapy.
Eat a Healthy Diet
While researchers are still working to understand the link between diet and depression, there is little doubt that eating well can improve health and well-being. One 2017 study found symptoms of depression decreased when people had nutritional counseling and following a healthier diet for 12 weeks.
There is no specific diet to relieve depression symptoms. However, focusing on a varied diet that includes whole fresh foods and plenty of fruits and vegetables is a good place to start.
Manage Stress
Chronic stressisn’t healthy for anyone, but it’s especially harmful if you or someone you love is living with depression. Stress can make it that much harder to maintain healthy habits and positive coping strategies needed to manage your depression symptoms.
Depression can also make it more difficult to control stress. For this reason, it’s important to includeproven stress management techniqueslike meditation, guided imagery, and deep breathing in your overall self-care plan.
A Word From Verywell
While it might feel difficult at first to talk to your doctor about your feelings of depression, having this discussion is an important first step toward improving your well-being. Tell your doctor that you have been feeling down and that you suspect you might be depressed.
Your doctor can then rule out or treat any underlying medical conditions that might be contributing to your symptoms and recommend appropriate treatments. Starting this conversation can help you get the help and support that you need to start feeling better.
8 Tips for Living With Depression
9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Health information privacy.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Depression.Cuijpers P, Noma H, Karyotaki E, Vinkers CH, Cipriani A, Furukawa TA.A network meta-analysis of the effects of psychotherapies, pharmacotherapies and their combination in the treatment of adult depression.World Psychiatry. 2020;19(1):92-107. doi:10.1002/wps.20701Panos PT, Jackson JW, Hasan O, Panos A.Meta-analysis and systematic review assessing the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy(DBT).Res Soc Work Pract. 2014;24(2):213-223. doi:10.1177/1049731513503047Henssler J, Kurschus M, Franklin J, Bschor T, Baethge C.Trajectories of acute antidepressant efficacy: How long to wait for response? A systematic review and meta-analysis of long-term, placebo-controlled acute treatment trials.J Clin Psychiatry. 2018;79(3):17r11470. doi:10.4088/JCP.17r11470Nahas R, Sheikh O.Complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of major depressive disorder.Can Fam Physician. 2011;57(6):659-663.Roberts RE, Duong HT.The prospective association between sleep deprivation and depression among adolescents.Sleep. 2014;37(2):239-44. doi:10.5665/sleep.3388Carek PJ, Laibstain SE, Carek SM.Exercise for the treatment of depression and anxiety.The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine.2011;41(1):15-28. doi:10.2190/PM.41.1.cJacka FN, et al.A randomised controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the ‘SMILES’ trial).BMC Med.2017;15(1):23. doi:10.1186/s12916-017-0791-y
9 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Health information privacy.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Depression.Cuijpers P, Noma H, Karyotaki E, Vinkers CH, Cipriani A, Furukawa TA.A network meta-analysis of the effects of psychotherapies, pharmacotherapies and their combination in the treatment of adult depression.World Psychiatry. 2020;19(1):92-107. doi:10.1002/wps.20701Panos PT, Jackson JW, Hasan O, Panos A.Meta-analysis and systematic review assessing the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy(DBT).Res Soc Work Pract. 2014;24(2):213-223. doi:10.1177/1049731513503047Henssler J, Kurschus M, Franklin J, Bschor T, Baethge C.Trajectories of acute antidepressant efficacy: How long to wait for response? A systematic review and meta-analysis of long-term, placebo-controlled acute treatment trials.J Clin Psychiatry. 2018;79(3):17r11470. doi:10.4088/JCP.17r11470Nahas R, Sheikh O.Complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of major depressive disorder.Can Fam Physician. 2011;57(6):659-663.Roberts RE, Duong HT.The prospective association between sleep deprivation and depression among adolescents.Sleep. 2014;37(2):239-44. doi:10.5665/sleep.3388Carek PJ, Laibstain SE, Carek SM.Exercise for the treatment of depression and anxiety.The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine.2011;41(1):15-28. doi:10.2190/PM.41.1.cJacka FN, et al.A randomised controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the ‘SMILES’ trial).BMC Med.2017;15(1):23. doi:10.1186/s12916-017-0791-y
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Health information privacy.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Depression.Cuijpers P, Noma H, Karyotaki E, Vinkers CH, Cipriani A, Furukawa TA.A network meta-analysis of the effects of psychotherapies, pharmacotherapies and their combination in the treatment of adult depression.World Psychiatry. 2020;19(1):92-107. doi:10.1002/wps.20701Panos PT, Jackson JW, Hasan O, Panos A.Meta-analysis and systematic review assessing the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy(DBT).Res Soc Work Pract. 2014;24(2):213-223. doi:10.1177/1049731513503047Henssler J, Kurschus M, Franklin J, Bschor T, Baethge C.Trajectories of acute antidepressant efficacy: How long to wait for response? A systematic review and meta-analysis of long-term, placebo-controlled acute treatment trials.J Clin Psychiatry. 2018;79(3):17r11470. doi:10.4088/JCP.17r11470Nahas R, Sheikh O.Complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of major depressive disorder.Can Fam Physician. 2011;57(6):659-663.Roberts RE, Duong HT.The prospective association between sleep deprivation and depression among adolescents.Sleep. 2014;37(2):239-44. doi:10.5665/sleep.3388Carek PJ, Laibstain SE, Carek SM.Exercise for the treatment of depression and anxiety.The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine.2011;41(1):15-28. doi:10.2190/PM.41.1.cJacka FN, et al.A randomised controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the ‘SMILES’ trial).BMC Med.2017;15(1):23. doi:10.1186/s12916-017-0791-y
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Health information privacy.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Depression.
Cuijpers P, Noma H, Karyotaki E, Vinkers CH, Cipriani A, Furukawa TA.A network meta-analysis of the effects of psychotherapies, pharmacotherapies and their combination in the treatment of adult depression.World Psychiatry. 2020;19(1):92-107. doi:10.1002/wps.20701
Panos PT, Jackson JW, Hasan O, Panos A.Meta-analysis and systematic review assessing the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy(DBT).Res Soc Work Pract. 2014;24(2):213-223. doi:10.1177/1049731513503047
Henssler J, Kurschus M, Franklin J, Bschor T, Baethge C.Trajectories of acute antidepressant efficacy: How long to wait for response? A systematic review and meta-analysis of long-term, placebo-controlled acute treatment trials.J Clin Psychiatry. 2018;79(3):17r11470. doi:10.4088/JCP.17r11470
Nahas R, Sheikh O.Complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of major depressive disorder.Can Fam Physician. 2011;57(6):659-663.
Roberts RE, Duong HT.The prospective association between sleep deprivation and depression among adolescents.Sleep. 2014;37(2):239-44. doi:10.5665/sleep.3388
Carek PJ, Laibstain SE, Carek SM.Exercise for the treatment of depression and anxiety.The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine.2011;41(1):15-28. doi:10.2190/PM.41.1.c
Jacka FN, et al.A randomised controlled trial of dietary improvement for adults with major depression (the ‘SMILES’ trial).BMC Med.2017;15(1):23. doi:10.1186/s12916-017-0791-y
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