What If Depression Goes Untreated?

Don't let the stigma of mental illness stop you from getting help for depression. Here's what can happen if you don't seek treatment.

By Beth W. Orenstein

Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

Many people who experiencedepression are reluctant to get treatment. One of the biggest obstacles to seeking treatment for depression is the stigma of mental illness. Some people may mistakenly believe that it’s shameful to be depressed, says Joseph Shrand, MD, medical director of the High Point Treatment Center in Brockton, Mass., and an instructor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Or they may be afraid that if they seek help, friends and family will see them as weak or inadequate.

But it’s extremely important that symptoms of depression are treated. The consequences of untreated depression can’t be ignored:

• Worsening depression. “There’s no question that untreated depression can lead to longer episodes,” says Peter Kramer, MD, a professor of clinical psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University and author of Against Depression and Listening to Prozac.
• Thoughts of suicide. If you have suicidal thoughts, a common symptom of depression, the risk that you’ll act on them is higher if you don’t seek treatment. When depression is treated successfully with medications and psychotherapy, thoughts of suicide will go away, Dr. Kramer says.
• Other medical conditions. Depression can make other medical conditions you may have more difficult to treat. Research shows that people who have depression die in greater numbers than people who’ve never been depressed, Kramer says.

If you get help when you first recognize depression symptoms, you’ll see positive results quicker, including:

• Feeling better. You’ll return to your normal self sooner and can begin enjoying life again. “If you think your depression will never go away, then you will only feel more depressed,” Dr. Shrand says.
• Fewer episodes in the future. If you seek treatment for depression, you can reduce the risk of it coming back. Antidepressants and psychotherapy, as well as some alternative treatments such as light therapy, will help shorten episodes of depression substantially and help keep you from having more depressive episodes, Kramer says.

How to Get Help for Depression

It’s important that you’re aware of the symptoms of depression and don’t wait until they’re severe to seek help. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to treat and the more time it may take for therapy and medications to be effective, Shrand says.

Symptoms of depression include feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, sleeplessness or sleeping too much, loss of energy or interest in normally pleasurable activities, and withdrawing socially. If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or others, seek or suggest professional help.

If you don’t know where to start, ask your family doctor or any other healthcare provider to recommend a mental health professional who can help you, Kramer suggests. Most communities also have mental health centers that can provide free or low-cost assistance, he adds.

Depression Risks Increase When You Stop Treatment

Once you seek help from a mental health professional, it’s important that you stick to the treatment plan that he or she has prescribed. Many people start to feel better and stop taking their antidepressants, Kramer says. That’s one of the worst things to do. “If you stop your medication before you’re supposed to, you substantially increase the risk for depression to come back,” Kramer says.

Don’t let stigma about mental illness, embarrassment over what others might think, or anything else stop you from getting help for depression. Your friends and family would much rather see you happy and healthy, and will be proud that you took the necessary steps to deal with and overcome depression.

Last Updated: 08/30/2012