Depression
Do not let life pass you by, depression is treatable!
Depression is a real biological disorder and is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Depression can not only deprive you of the joys of life, but is believed to substantially increase the risk of developing numerous diseases. When medication is appropriate for treatment, many patients report significant improvement by the end of their first month of treatment.
The defining feature of depression is either one or both of the following:
I) Depressed mood (most of the time during most days).
II) Loss of interest in, or inability to derive joy or pleasure from, nearly all activities or hobbies (most of the time during most days).
To meet the criteria for a diagnosis of depression: An individual must experience at least one of these two symptoms for at least 2 consecutive weeks. Additionally, they must have a number of other depressive symptoms during the same duration of time.
Some common symptoms of depression:
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Low self-esteem
- Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt
- Diminished ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions
- Insomnia
- Hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness or oversleeping).
- Significant change in appetite: Increased or decreased
- Significant change in body weight: Weight loss or weight gain of more than 5% of body weight in a month
- Readily apparent "psychomotor agitation" (purposeless movement such as tapping, pacing, or fidgeting)
- Readily apparent "psychomotor retardation" (delayed thoughts or movements as if a person is operating in slow motion)
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide*.
*Notice: If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please seek professional help immediately. If you also have a suicide plan or intent to hurt yourself, please seek emergency medical help NOW by calling local emergency services at 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Quick Facts:
Young adults with a major depressive disorder in the past year.
Treatment We Provide
We can diagnose a wide variety of depressive disorders during an initial evaluation and prescribe medication if appropriate. Please see our services & pricing page for more information on our evaluation.
References: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022, January). Major depression. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved January 2023, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression