Depression

What causes depression?

Depression is a prevalent mood disorder that causes persistent low moods like sadness and hopelessness. Your emotions and loss of interest in your typical activities can lead to appetite changes, trouble concentrating, sleep problems, and other repercussions.

There is no single cause of depression. It can occur for many reasons and has many different triggers.

For some people, stressful or upsetting life events, such as divorce, illness, death, redundancy, job loss, or money worries, can be the cause. Depression can also be the result of witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event, like domestic violence.

Are there different types of depression?

There are several types of depression:

• Major depressive disorder
• Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
• Perinatal depression
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
• Depression with symptoms of psychosis

Depressive disorders can also be the result of another medical or mental health condition. For example, bipolar disorder is another type of mood disorder that causes episodes of depression and also experience episodes of mania.

What are some treatments for depression?

It's essential to get help and the proper treatment for depression. There is a range of effective treatments available that can help you recover, such as:

Psychotherapy

Also called talk therapy, this form of therapy can help to normalize brain changes associated with depression. Psychological treatment usually involves talking about things in depth and doing behavioral exercises. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the psychological treatment most commonly used for depression.

Medication

While not everyone needs or can benefit from medications, prescriptions such as sedatives for anxiety, antidepressants for depression, and stimulant medications for ADHD can all assist alongside counseling.

Any condition requiring medication, often the combination of oral drugs, injectable medications, patches, pellets, and creams, benefits from medication management. Pharmaceuticals can interact, so it’s vital to take them under a doctor’s supervision.

Outpatient Program (IOP) 

An intensive outpatient program (IOP) can address coinciding diagnoses like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health conditions that can occur alongside substance abuse.

Depression is a serious mood disorder. It can touch every part of your life. Treatment can help.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of depression, reach out to Infinity Care. Call the office or request an appointment online. In-person and telehealth services are available.