Depressed? Tips To Make Your Treatment More Affordable

Depression is a lot more common than you think, so don’t feel ashamed if you suffer from it. Don’t try to run away from it, either, as depression left untreated can negatively impact your school, work, and social life.

What can keep you from tackling depression head-on? All of the costs involved with treating the disease, which can be quite expensive if you don’t have insurance.

Still, your best bet is to treat depression now. If you don’t, it could cost you a lot more later on in terms of your quality of life and finances.

The Costs Involved With Treating Depression

Therapy

Some people find that sessions with a psychologist or psychiatrist help treat their depression. These sessions can be quite costly, and you may need to continue them for years to maintain the intended effect.

Some therapy sessions can cost $100 per hour, but that number can depend on your insurance coverage and where you live. Such an expense can seem impossible to keep up with, so follow these tips to try to reduce your therapy costs:

1. Contact your insurance company. A list of in-network therapists can drive down your costs.
2. Ask for recommendations from your doctor, then contact them to ask about pricing. This form of personal networking could lead to discounts.
3. Ask the therapist if they perform treatment based on income. Doing so could earn you a discount if you’re working with limited funds.
4. Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). They can connect you with assistance programs.
5. Use telehealth instead of in-person sessions to cut costs.

Medication

In addition to therapy sessions, your doctor may recommend medication to treat your depression. You can see a list of the most popular depression drugs here, along with their costs.

Since antidepressants can be expensive, try the following to make them more affordable:

1. Ask your doctor for advice on cutting prescription. Don’t be afraid to explain your financial situation in detail.
2. Opt for generic versions of antidepressants versus brand-name ones.
3. Look for patient assistance programs from pharmaceutical companies. They exist to make medications more accessible to low-income patients.

How To Treat Depression With Self-Care

You can reduce some of the medical costs linked to depression through self-care. And if you get good enough at it, you could eliminate those costs altogether.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to spend tons of money on pricy spa getaways either, as there are simple tips you can follow to feel better. Here’s just a sampling:

• Exercise daily to get feel-good endorphins flowing through your system while also building confidence.
• Eat nutrient-rich whole foods to fuel your body and avoid energy crashes and irritability that come with sugary processed foods.
• Sleep seven to nine hours per night.
• Socialize with others, so you don’t feel isolated.
• Practice meditation and deep breathing exercises.
• Spend time outdoors, especially when it’s sunny, so you can get some much-needed vitamin D.
• Take up new hobbies or enjoy your favorite ones.
• Limit the use of nicotine, alcohol, and other substances.