Depression

What is depression?

Depression is a highly common mood disorder that causes you to lose interest in day-to-day life. Intense feelings of worthlessness and sadness are common with depression, even if they don’t seem to have a particular cause or source. Your feelings and the other symptoms of depression can influence your mood, thoughts, behaviors, and interpersonal relationships. 

Major depressive disorder is the clinical term for depression, but depression can also happen under certain circumstances. Postpartum depression is a specific type that affects women after they give birth, while seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that happens during the winter months when there is less natural light during the day.

Dr. Pandya and the team at Preferred Medical Center can diagnose and treat depression with individualized care. It may take some trial and error, but effective depression treatment can improve your sleep, concentration, mood, and overall well-being. 

How do I know if I have depression?

Without the necessary background knowledge, it can be challenging to separate feelings of depression from typical feelings of sadness or the grieving process. However, depression has distinct symptoms and key differences from other feelings, states of mind, and mood disorders.

The most pressing symptoms of depression include:

• Persistent sadness
• Persistent guilt
• Persistent hopelessness
• A loss of interest in your favorite topics and activities
• Irritability
• New aches and pains
• Changes in appetite and weight
• Insomnia
• Oversleeping
• Fatigue
• Thoughts or attempts of suicide

You or those around you might notice a decline in your concentration, memory, and productivity, too. In order to receive a depression diagnosis, symptoms like these must occur almost daily for at least two weeks and have a significant impact on functioning. 

How is depression treated?

Treating depression requires individualized care that considers your preferences and personal needs. Before they make recommendations or prescribe medication, Dr. Pandya and the team at Preferred Medical Center explore the factors contributing to your depression, like hormones or a family history of the condition. You can manage depression with:

Medications

Antidepressants are medications that treat depression by balancing brain chemicals. They work best when you also go through counseling or psychotherapy to manage depression. Dr. Pandya might also prescribe hormonal birth control in certain cases of depression to regulate hormones. 

Behavior modification

Behavior modification is often necessary for managing depression and getting back into a stable routine. Dr. Pandya and the team might advise you to exercise, regulate your sleep cycle, find a healthy outlet for stress, or make other changes to your behavior and lifestyle.

Counseling or therapy

Counseling or talk therapy allows you to talk through your thoughts and feelings with a licensed professional. You can also learn helpful coping skills to improve your state of mind and change your behaviors.

Learn more about depression and the treatments available for the condition by calling Preferred Medical Center or booking an appointment online today. If you need help right away, walk into the office — no appointment is needed.