Confirming your TRD diagnosis
If you think you may have TRD, it is vital to see a primary care physician or, better still, a psychiatrist with expertise in depression. This person can confirm your diagnosis, and start you on a treatment plan. Certain conditions and circumstances can mimic TRD symptoms, so you want to be sure you get an accurate diagnosis. Factors you’ll want to cover with your provider include:
Life situation: Are there things going on in your life that are keeping you down? Chronic stress at work? The death of a spouse, loved one, or long-time friend? Ongoing money or health worries?
Other drugs or supplements you’re taking: Certain medications or supplements may be interfering with your depression medications and therapy.
Medication compliance: It’s important to be honest about the medications you’ve been prescribed. If you frequently skip doses, that may be why you’re not feeling relief from your depression symptoms.
Your physical health: Some conditions can cause or exacerbate depression, including thyroid disorders, chronic pain, or serious illnesses like cancer or heart disease.
Your mental health: It’s possible you may have another undetected mental illness such as bipolar disorder or an eating disorder. Both will require a different treatment strategy than the one you’re following for your depression.
Again, any one of these factors above may help explain why you’re not responding to treatment. Be sure to talk to a trained professional about them. You deserve to feel better.