Dealing with Depression? How Therapy in Singapore Can Help

Last Updated on April 24, 2025 by Prath

Reviewed by April Justice, LICSW

A person looking tired and struggling to deal with depression.

Are you struggling to get out of bed? Does processing your emotions and thoughts feel too hard? If yes, these are signs that could indicate depression or distress.

Depression is a common mental health disorder, but it’s still hard to notice when the symptoms worsen.

People may experience depression in many different ways. While some struggle to control their mood swings, others may have difficulties in their relationships or work.

It’s important to address the symptoms during the early stages. Imagine staining your shirt and leaving it to wash later. The more you ignore the stain, the harder it might be to eliminate it.

Mental health issues are similar to the above example in many ways. Hence, in this article, we’re exploring the symptoms of depression and how seeking therapy in Singapore can be helpful.

This Article Contains:

Understanding Depression

The symptoms of depression can be emotional, psychological, physical, or social. It can also co-exist with other issues like grief or work stress. In fact, living with daily stressors may even cause depression.

The reason that it’s hard to notice the signs of this condition is that it happens slowly and over the course of a long time.

For example, working in a toxic environment for several years can add pressure every single day. You might feel a breaking point one day and hope to get it checked. In other cases, an immediate situation like the loss of a loved one could also cause depressive symptoms.

Hence, it’s important to be aware of the different kinds of manifestations of mood disorders. This knowledge can come in handy to identify the signs at the right time.

1) Emotional Symptoms

The emotional or psychological symptoms of depression are:

Feeling low or moody for more than 2 weeks

Having low self-esteem or confidence

Lacking joy and happiness in life

Struggling to communicate your thoughts and feelings

Feeling hopeless and unworthy

Experiencing a lot of shame and guilt

Having frequent crying spells out of the blue

Feeling emotional all the time

Having no motivation to engage in previously loved activities

Struggling to make decisions in life

Feeling anxious or worried about the future

Having suicidal thoughts

2) Physical Symptoms

The physical symptoms of depression may include:

Gastrointestinal issues like bloating or IBS

Constipation

Lack of energy or fatigue

Low sex drive

Changes in appetite or weight

Sleep issues like deprivation or oversleeping

Unexplained soreness or pain in muscles

Headaches and nausea

3) Social Symptoms

Social symptoms are related to interpersonal dynamics with other people in your life. These include:

Lack of interest or energy in interacting with your loved ones

Isolating yourself from your community

Neglecting your hobbies or interests in life that may have included social interactions (eg playing team sports)

Avoiding situations that require you to be socially active

Neglecting work tasks that may involve other people

Skipping work meetings or hanging out with friends

Causes of Depression

There is no universal cause of depression. As explored in the previous sections, depression can be caused by a lot of factors, including but not limited to:

Negative childhood experiences

Work-related stress or burnout

Poor social relationships

Bullying or discrimination

Lack of social support from friends or family

Feeling lonely or isolated

Major life transitions like moving abroad

A combination of the above factors may also cause depression. This is also known as the ‘downward spiral’ – a series of events or situations that may lead to depression. For example, a person experiencing work stress may have depressive symptoms. In addition, they may have conflicts with their mom or at home, which could further trigger the symptoms.

Over 50% of people see significant progress within 15-20 sessions.

How Professional Support Can Help

Therapy in Singapore is a great way to manage your depression symptoms. TYHO Therapists are trained in several approaches to help you:

Make sense of your emotions

Understand and learn therapeutic tools to cope with maladaptive behaviours

Develop a personalised therapeutic plan

Seek short-term or long-term support to improve your overall quality of life

Many different types of therapy are used to treat depression. Let’s look at some of the common ones below.

1) Talking Therapies

Talking therapies usually involve a one-to-one structured conversation with a well-qualified therapist.

Some of the common types of talking therapies include:

Cognitive behavioural therapy

Dialectical behavioural therapy

Psychodynamic therapy

Client-centred therapy

Acceptance and commitment therapy

Mindfulness-based CBT

Attending 6-12 sessions is usually recommended to benefit from positive therapy outcomes.

Therapists may either use a specific or eclectic (ie combination) approach. Having an open conversation with the professional is important to decide which approach works best for you.

At TYHO, we have an expert pool of Therapists in Singapore who can help you with a wide range of issues. If you’re looking to talk to someone, get started here.

2) Medication

Some people may have physical symptoms of depression. For them, seeking only therapy may not be as helpful.

In such cases, you can talk to your Therapist about medications. If you’re hesitant to start medications, here are some questions you can ask the professional:

Why do I need medications?

Will therapy help me even if I don’t take medicines?

Can my physical symptoms be reduced through other methods like exercise or meditation?

Would you personally recommend a combination of medication and psychotherapy for me?

Your Therapist may brainstorm with you to decide on the best approach. If you decide that you need medications, your Therapist may refer you to a psychiatrist.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who are qualified to prescribe medications. Based on your symptoms, you may be started on antidepressants.

Remember that the treatment plan is under your control. No professional will force you to choose a particular method over another. Hence, you can try to talk therapy for a couple of weeks before deciding on the next steps.

If you are confident to start medications, ensure to ask questions to both your Therapist and psychiatrist to gain the best understanding of your treatment plan.

3) Combination Therapy

A combination of therapy and medications is usually the most recommended approach to achieving positive outcomes.

Below are some combinations you can expect to try:

Only taking medications for the first few weeks of therapy

Starting out with medications to reduce physical symptoms and then continuing with therapy to focus on psychological symptoms

Finishing a couple of talk therapy sessions before starting medications

Taking medications and therapy at the same time

The choice may depend on many factors, such as:

Your presenting problems

Therapist’s recommendation

Your preferences and needs

Your physical and psychological reactions to medications

The severity of the symptoms

4) Other treatments

Alternative treatments are also used to manage the signs of depression. While these techniques are not the primary intervention, they can help speed the process of recovery.

Mindfulness: A Therapist may use mindfulness or deep breathing techniques to reduce issues like mood swings, muscle soreness, and brain fog

St John’s wort: This is a herbal treatment that can improve a person’s mood or energy (Note: it’s best to consult a doctor before choosing this option)

Brain stimulation: Specialists may use electromagnetic currents to activate some parts of the brain, leading to better moods and emotions

Conclusion

Depression can affect anyone. It’s hard to function at your best when you feel low and hopeless about life.

However, the good news is that depression can be managed and successfully reduced.

If you notice any emotional, physical, or social signs of depression, talking to a Therapist might be helpful.

Remember that a lot of factors can cause depression. Try to think if you’ve experienced significant changes in your life or if some underlying issues trigger your symptoms.

Approaches like psychodynamic psychotherapy may also help you identify the root cause of the symptoms.

Professional support, like talking therapies, medications, or a combination of both, can positively change your life.

You are not alone in the journey. If you are ready to talk to a qualified therapist, click this link.