Depression
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, and loss of joy that causes a significant disruption in your life and how you function. It is different, heavier, than what is expected during stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, job loss, trauma, or adverse childhood experiences.
For most individuals, when they experience stressful life events, they may feel sadness or disconnected/disinterested in participating in hobbies. They may struggle with completing daily tasks, may take time off from work or school, or they may isolate from social situations. This is a normal reaction to stressful life events. We want to be careful not to pathologize these feelings as depression. Over time, these feelings will start to subside. Some individuals have support systems they can utilize or have acquired coping strategies that will help them move through these feelings. Life has waves of ups and downs, adversity we must overcome, but the overcoming part is one of the aspects that separates a normal reaction from depression. For more information visit the American Psychiatric Association.
All clinicians at Optimal Moments are able to treat Depression.
How is Depression different than sadness?
It is always best to have a mental health professional conduct an assessment for an accurate diagnosis. We strongly advise against using symptoms presented online through sources like WebMD to diagnose yourself or others. Diagnosis is a complex process best conducted by trained professionals, such as psychologists or clinical social workers or mental health counselors.
Mental health professionals will examine symptoms beyond a checklist to dive deeper into understanding whether the symptoms represent sadness, a Depressive episode, or are a different condition altogether. Mental health professionals can also recommend a treatment approach that would best address the symptoms and the root causes.
We are looking at a broad picture to understand the full spectrum of symptoms, duration and intensity of the symptoms, potential root causes for the symptoms, and the impact of the symptoms on an individual’s ability to function. Depression can show up in different ways such as Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Perinatal or Post-partum Depression, or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. It can also be present within other mental health disorder such as Bipolar. You can also have a depressive disorder and meet criteria for an entirely different disorder, such also having Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Nearly 50% of individuals with depression also experience anxiety.
Symptoms of Depression include:
Chronic sadness or depressed mood
Loss of enjoyment or pleasure
Changes in sleep
Changes in appetite or weight
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Thoughts about death or suicide
What are the causes of Depression?
Depression can be triggered by the same stressful life events that cause sadness. There are other causes for depression:
Neurotransmitters: Neurotransmitters are the communicators of our brain. Serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine play a role in regulating moods and emotions. Our knowledge of the brain continues to grow, but medications that act on the different neurotransmitters has been used in treating Depression.
Genetic Vulnerability: Some individuals are predisposed to depression based on family history.
Medications: Some individuals may experience depressive symptoms because of taking a medication to treat a different condition.
Medical Problems: Hormonal imbalances (low testosterone, thyroid, etc.), chronic illnesses, chronic pain, or other health conditions can impact mood.
Sleep: Chronic lack of sleep in the form of interrupted sleep or not enough hours of sleep (less than 8 hours) can lead to symptoms of depression.
Other Considerations: Low vitamin B, vitamin D, or iron; low water intake (chronic dehydration), low caloric intake, etc. can also lead to symptoms of depression.
What are treatment options for Depression?
Every individual will experience a different combination of symptoms, will have different causes for depression, and will require a different treatment approach as a result. It is best to meet with a mental health professional to develop a treatment plan that addresses your specific symptoms and causes for depression.
At Optimal Moments, we take a holistic approach to treatment and individualize your treatment plan.
Complete Physical: We will recommend working with your PCP and other medical providers to rule out any potential biological causes for depression.
Psychotherapy: The most studied therapy approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Our providers use an eclectic approach which includes CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), interpersonal processing, radical acceptance, and other effective therapy techniques.
Lifestyle Modifications: Our providers can work with you on sleep hygiene, stress reduction, establishing a healthy diet, moderate exercise, assertiveness training, career counseling, and other daily lifestyle challenges that may be impacting your mood.
Medications: Our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) can assist you in identifying medications to alleviate symptoms. We utilize psychogenetic testing to guide this decision to reduce adverse symptoms and increase the chances of finding the medication that would be best for you.
Community Referrals: We will work with you to identify community resources that may also assist in reducing depression symptoms. This may include a referral for neuromodulation like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) which can be used in treatment of chronic severe depression. We may discuss the need for more intense, consistent treatment that would increase the chances of success in reducing symptoms, such an Intensive Outpatient Program or Residential. Or maybe having a support group would provide community relationships you have been needing.
The most important thing to remember is you or your loved one do not have to face this alone. We are here to help.
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