It's not one-size-fits-all.
Treatment options formajor depressive disorder
Depression doesn’t look the same for everyone...
and treatment doesn’t either.
For many people, treatment helps but not enough. What works for one person may not work for another, and finding a treatment plan that’s right for you can take time (and sometimes a few tries).
The goal of treatment is remission1—reaching a point where your depressive symptoms significantly improve or go away, helping you feel more like the best version of yourself.
No one should have to settle for “fine,” especially when remission is possible. Bring your “fine-but-not-great” feelings to the table and ask your healthcare provider what other options might be right for you.
Some of the most common treatment
options for depression are2:
options for depression are2:
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, often called “talk therapy,” is a safe, confidential space to sort through what’s really going on beneath the “I’m fine” when it comes to your depression. A trained healthcare professional can help you explore your thoughts, feelings, experiences and relationships, and work with you to spot patterns or triggers that may be affecting your mood.3
Although depression is a disease of the brain, everyday life can still bring challenges that can feel overwhelming or beyond our control.
Talk therapy may help you process those moments, build coping skills and understand the behaviors or reactions that might be making things harder.
Antidepressant Medications
There are many types of antidepressant medications. They’re believed to work by increasing certain brain chemicals, like serotonin, norepinephrine and/or dopamine, that help regulate mood.4
In other words, these medications may help ease feelings of sadness or low mood, but like any treatment, they come with individual risks and benefits. They’re not a cure on their own and often work best as part of a complete treatment plan.
Most antidepressants take a few weeks to start making a noticeable difference. Tracking these changes can help you and your healthcare provider understand whether a treatment may or may not be working.
Adjunctive Treatment
If you're still experiencing ongoing depression symptoms while on medication treatment, there are alternative options your healthcare provider may discuss with you. One option is to add an adjunctive medication to your current treatment plan.
Adjunctive medications are used alongside your existing treatment, rather than replacing it. The goal of an adjunctive medicine is to help you get to a place where you’re having fewer depression symptoms.
Fortunately, there are options available for adults experiencing ongoing symptoms while on treatment.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
ECT is a procedure where small electric currents are routed through the brain to trigger a brief, controlled seizure. ECT is believed to cause chemistry changes in the area of the brain that controls mood, which may reduce severe depression symptoms.
People who have ECT are put under general anesthesia and wake up 5-10 minutes after the procedure. They typically stay in the treatment area for monitoring until it's safe to go home.
Most people need several sessions, often 4-6, to feel significant improvement. Some continue with maintenance treatments monthly or yearly, depending on what their doctor recommends.5
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
TMS is a procedure where a large electromagnetic coil is placed against a person's scalp.
During the session, these coils create a magnetic field to stimulate nerve cells in the brain through short magnetic pulses directed into certain areas of the brain believed to control mood and depressive symptoms. Several sessions are usually needed over a few weeks to see improvements in depressive symptoms.
A doctor will determine the amount of magnetic energy needed during the first treatment. Each session lasts about 40 minutes and does not require general anesthesia.5
Additional Treatment Options
For some people, depression symptoms can persist even after being treated with multiple medications.
When someone doesn't respond to multiple traditional antidepressants (of adequate dose and duration), this is sometimes referred to as treatment-resistant depression, or TRD. The good news: there are options for adults with this harder-to-treat form of depression.
A quick reminder: “fine” is not the finish line
Remember, the goal of depression treatment is remission1—reaching a point where your symptoms significantly improve or go away. If you have questions about your symptoms or adjusting your care plan, your doctor or mental health provider is the best place to go.
References
- Armstrong, C. (2011). APA releases guideline on treatment of patients with major depressive disorder. American Family Physician, 83(10), 1219–1227. Accessed April 2026. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2011/0515/p1219.pdf
- National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Depression: Treatment. https://www.nami.org/types-of-conditions/depression/?tab=treatmenttab-3
- Psychotherapy. Accessed January 2026. https://www.nami.org/treatments-and-approaches/psychotherapy/
- Types of Therapy. Accessed January 2026. https://www.nami.org/treatments-and-approaches/mental-health-medications/types-of-medication/
- ECT, TMS and Other Brain Stimulation Therapies. Accessed January 21, 2026. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/ECT,-TMS-and-Other-Brain-Stimulation-Therapies
Help is available 24/7. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org.
Please know you are not alone.
If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7 at 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org.