Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health disorders in the U.S. With 32.8% of adults reporting depression in 2021, the number of people seeking depression treatment is at an all-time high.
If you or a loved one are feeling more than blue, you aren’t alone. This post can help you understand more about the mental health disorder and help you to determine when to seek treatment.
Understanding Depression
Depression, or “major depressive disorder,” is more than feeling down. It’s a severe illness that negatively affects how you think, feel, and act. It causes feelings of extreme sadness and loss of interest in activities you typically enjoy. Depression can lead to various emotional and physical issues and negatively impact your ability to complete everyday tasks.
There are many risk factors for developing depression. Those who are mentally, physically, or sexually abused are more prone to depression. Likewise, so are people who experience other trauma, like the death of a loved one.
There are different types of depression. But they all have a significant factor in common — a sad, empty, or irritable mood that you can’t seem to regulate.
Depression can range from mild to severe. Sadness, anger, and fatigue are symptoms of mild depression. If you have severe depression, your symptoms can feel paralyzing.
Symptoms of severe depression include:
- Insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Irritability
- Loss of interest in activities
- Hopelessness
- Persistent thoughts of negative things happening
- Suicidal thoughts
- Inability to care for yourself
When to Seek Depression Treatment
It can be difficult to know when you are experiencing passing sadness or if you have depression. If you think you may be experiencing depression, it’s best to seek advice from a mental health professional.
Seek help for depression if the following symptoms last more than two weeks:
- Hopelessness. People experience feelings of grief after the death of a loved one or loss of employment. Likewise, feelings of frustration, sadness, and regret are all a part of the human experience. But unrelenting hopelessness, the inability to see anything beyond your pain, and not having a reason to move forward are signs of depression.
- Inability to Concentrate. When you have depression, you might find yourself having difficulty concentrating or making decisions. Activities that require focus might feel impossible.
- Unexplained Physical Pain. Depression has physical manifestations. Bloating, backaches and joint pain aren’t uncommon when you have depression.
- Apathy. Maybe you typically enjoy listening to music, going on walks, or getting takeout from a new restaurant. When you have depression, it’s not uncommon to not feel pleasure from favorite pastimes like you once did –– even if you force yourself. Depression drains happiness.
If you have suicidal ideation or consider self-harm in any way, seek help from a healthcare professional immediately.
Depression Treatment at ILC
Depression can make you or your loved one feel alone and isolated. It doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to fight depression alone. It doesn’t have to continue holding you or a loved one back from living a fulfilling life. Integrative Life Center has expert therapists and counselors who take a heart-centered, evidence-based, and holistic approach to treatment.
At ILC, we start with a medical assessment that helps us to determine what type of interventions might best serve you. We believe there is no one-size-fits-all treatment, as everyone is unique. Our goal is to provide you with the skills and tools you need to identify triggers, cope healthily, and heal. Our therapists provide trauma-focused care, as necessary.
Treatments our therapists use for those with depression include:
- Equine therapy
- Adventure-based therapies
- Yoga
- Meditation and mindfulness
- Breathwork
Contact ILC to learn more about these treatment options and our full treatment programs. Our depression treatment can help you begin to heal.
