When Does Depression Warrant Professional Intervention?
On the surface, feelings, such as sadness and grief, are considered healthy emotions, just like joy and happiness. After all, can one truly exist without the other? However, if these “down” feelings become persistent, they could be due to a mental health condition known as depression.
Studies show that an estimated 21 million American adults experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2020. That’s a staggering 8.4% of people aged 18 and older. However, you don’t need to have a “major” episode in order to get help for your condition.
Our compassionate team at Psychiatric Consultants of Atlanta understands that it isn’t easy asking for help, especially when it involves mental health. But depression is one of the most common mood disorders in the country, and it’s highly treatable.
If you’ve been feeling depressed, here’s when and how professional intervention can help.
It’s more than sadness
As we mentioned above, sadness is a healthy emotion, and most people get the blues from time to time. But, these feelings usually come and go, unlike depression, which is a brain disorder that persists and can require long-term treatment.
When you have depression, it can interfere with your ability to think, feel, and handle everyday activities, such as working, eating, and even sleeping. Signs of depression often include:
- Ongoing emptiness, sadness, hopelessness, or anxiety
- Feelings of restlessness, frustration, or irritability
Changes in appetite, weight, or sleeping habits - Difficulty making decisions or concentrating
- Difficulty remembering things
- Fatigue or decreased energy
Depressive disorders can also cause physical aches and pains, ranging from headaches or cramps to digestive problems. Sadly, it can even lead to thoughts of death or suicide.
Unfortunately, people often put off a trip to the doctor because they don’t think their symptoms are “bad” enough. However, professional treatment for depression can provide relief, even if you have mild symptoms or have emotions that get triggered by a specific issue, such as a death, loss of a job, or childbirth.
Finding help for depression
No matter what challenges you face, our team can help. It all starts with a consultation, so we can help reach a diagnosis and outline the most effective strategy to address your condition.
Finding help for depression
One highly effective treatment for depression involves therapy and counseling. As you might imagine, therapy and counseling involve talking with a highly qualified and credentialed mental health professional. This may seem embarrassing or overwhelming, but it provides an opportunity for you to share your concerns and feelings in a safe and supportive environment.
Whether you simply need someone to talk to or a more structured therapy session, our team has extensive experience in numerous therapeutic techniques, so we can provide the perfect fit for your needs and unique personality.
We offer guidance and tools based on your unique situation during therapy and counseling sessions. We can also help you gain the skills you need to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
Other therapies
Depending on your symptoms and diagnosis, we could also recommend additional therapies to improve your brain function and quality of life, such as:
Medications, such as antidepressants
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to stimulate electrical activity in your brain
Spravato®, a medication for treatment-resistant depression
Since depression can vary significantly from person to person, the main thing to keep in mind is that there’s help available if you need it, whether once during your lifetime or on an ongoing basis.
And remember, your symptoms don’t have to be severe. Talking to an expert can help ensure you receive the support you need to manage your symptoms, get you through difficult times, and restore your quality of life.
If you’re depressed or think you may be, we can help. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with Psychiatric Consultants of Atlanta today.
1 Comment
maxodev
Great!