How Support in Singapore Can Help with Depression

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 depression therapy in Singapore can be helpful. 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 depression therapy in Singapore can be helpful.  

Introduction to TYHO

TYHO provides in-person and online therapy in Singapore. Our platform connects clients to vetted and experienced Psychotherapists, Counsellors, and Psychologists in Singapore. We refer to all our mental health professionals collectively as "Therapists", given the overlap in their scopes of practice. A majority of our Therapists are members of recognised bodies such as the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC) and the Singapore Psychological Society (SPS). If you'd like help with selecting someone suitable, WhatsApp us at +65 9831 0005 or email us at [email protected].

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.  

If you're struggling with work stress, you may also benefit from EAP services. 

How Professional Support Can Help

Depression therapy in Singapore is a great way to manage your depression symptoms. 

TYHO counsellors 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 understand and 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 talk therapies used in depression therapy include: 

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Client-centred therapy
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• 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, including depression.

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 or psychologist 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 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 counselling 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 counselling sessions before starting medications
• Taking medications and therapy at the same time 

The choice may depend on many factors, such as: 

• Your presenting problems (eg, taking care of a new-born alongside post-partum depression)
• Your counsellor'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
• Brain stimulation: In some cases, specialists may use techniques such as electromagnetic stimulation to influence activity in certain areas of the brain, which may support improvements in mood and emotional regulation