Depression

What is depression?

Depression is a mood disorder that can have a major impact on your life as it governs how you act, feel, and engage. There are several types of depression, including:

• Major depressive disorder, with symptoms that last more than two weeks
• Persistent depressive disorder, which lasts two years or more
• Postpartum depression after the birth of a child
• Seasonal affective disorder, which typically comes on in the winter months
• Psychotic depression, which is a combination of depression and psychosis

If you’re unsure as to whether you’re dealing with depression or just a period of sadness, read on for a list of warning flags and the treatment options available at Hope Mental Health.

What are the symptoms of depression?

Everyone feels sad from time to time, which can last for days or weeks after a death or a break-up, as examples. Depression, however, is an entirely different matter as it hijacks your brain and brings on symptoms that include:

• An overwhelming feeling of sadness or hopelessness
• A loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Feeling overly anxious
• A loss of energy and general fatigue
• Difficulty with memory or concentration
• Body aches
• Headaches
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Digestive issues
• Suicidal thoughts

As you can see by this list, depression can overtake your mental and physical health, which is why it’s important that you seek help at Hope Mental Health.

How is depression treated?

When you first visit Hope Mental Health, Ms. Woodland spends a fair amount of time with you or your loved one, so you should expect this initial consultation to be lengthy. During this visit, your provider gathers information about your medical history and your current health and reviews your symptoms to identify the problem.

If they determine that depression is present, they tailor a treatment plan that’s unique to your situation. No two people are alike, which means that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for depression.

Your provider may recommend prescription medications to stop the downward spiral of depression, but this is always done in conjunction with psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy, which is one of the best treatment avenues for depression.

Rest assured, the team at Hope Mental Health works with you until a long-term, and sustainable solution is found, allowing you to break the chains of depression.

To schedule your initial consultation, please call Hope Mental Health or use the online scheduling tool to set up an appointment.