Depression is extreme sadness or despair that lasts more than days and affects people in different ways. Fortunately, depression is highly treatable. 

Everyone experiences sadness at times. But depression is something more. Depression is extreme sadness or despair that lasts more than some number of days. It interferes with the activities of daily life and can even cause physical pain. Fortunately, depression is highly treatable.

Depression, also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. In 2020, an estimated 21 million adults in the U.S.—about 8.4% of all U.S. adults—had at least one major depressive episode, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Understanding depression

Depression affects different people in different ways, but most of them experience some combination of the following symptoms:

• Prolonged sadness or feelings of emptiness

• Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness

• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness

• Anger and irritability

• Restlessness

• Difficulty concentrating

• Fatigue

• Changes in sleep patterns

• Appetite changes

• Chronic pain, headaches, or stomachaches

• Loss of interest in activities

• Withdrawal from friends and family

• Thoughts of death or suicide

Depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. People who have a family history of depression, and people with serious chronic diseases such as heart disease or cancer, are at an increased risk of depression. Major life changes, trauma, and stress can also bring about an episode of depression, although some episodes of depression begin without any obvious external cause. Whatever the cause, understanding it and treating it is possible!

Treatment for depression

Depression isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s not something you can just “snap out of.” It’s an illness that requires professional treatment. Yet with the right care, you can feel better.

Our licensed therapists are highly trained mental health professionals with experience in helping patients recover from depression. Several different approaches to psychotherapy have been shown to help individuals recover from depression, especially those with mild to moderate depression. Psychotherapy can help people with depression to:

• Pinpoint life events that contribute to their depression and help them find ways to change, accept or adapt to those situations

• Set realistic goals for the future

• Identify distorted thought processes or unhelpful behaviors that contribute to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness

• Develop skills to cope with symptoms and problems, and identify or prevent future episodes of depression

Two of the most common evidence-based therapies for depression we use are cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy in which patients learn to identify and manage negative thought and behavior patterns that can contribute to their depression. CBT helps patients identify unhelpful or negative thinking, change inaccurate beliefs, change behaviors that might make depression worse, and interact with others in more positive ways.

• Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a form of therapy in which patients learn to improve their relationships with others by better expressing their emotions and solving problems in healthier ways. IPT helps patients resolve or adapt to troubling life events, build social skills, and organize their relationships to increase support for coping with depressive symptoms and life stressors.

There is no one “right” approach to therapy. Each person is unique, has experiences and life events unique to themselves. Understanding you, your thoughts, feelings, experiences and struggles all help us build the right plan for you. We're here to help. Please, if you feel any association with Depression or Anxiety, reach out to us. Let's talk. You would be surprised how small the first steps are to creating a new outlook and feeling better.