Depression

What is depression?

Depression is a mental health illness that causes pervasive feelings of sadness and hopelessness that interfere with your ability to function in your day-to-day life. Some of the common signs of depression include:

• Feeling sad, hopeless, or worthless
• Lost interest in hobbies
• Social withdrawal
• Changes in appetite or sleep
• Low energy or fatigue
• Reduced concentration or decision making
• Thoughts of suicide or death

Depression is different from the sadness or grief that everyone experiences occasionally. Depression lasts longer, and your symptoms intensify over time instead of fading. Depression may or may not have an identifiable trigger.

When should I talk to a doctor about depression?

Depression is treatable, so you don’t have to live with distressing symptoms. Contact the team at Live Well Psychiatry if your symptoms last for more than two weeks or are getting worse instead of subsiding. If you are thinking about self-harm or suicide, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate assistance. 

How is depression treated?

The team at Live Well Psychiatry begins with a comprehensive assessment of your symptoms, health, and lifestyle. They offer research-level surveys to gather extensive details about your condition to get your diagnosis right the first time and create a carefully tailored treatment program. Your program could include:

Medication

Antidepressants work to regulate neurotransmitter activity in your brain to relieve your symptoms. They target serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Different drugs affect these neurotransmitters in different ways, with the ultimate goal of helping you feel better. 

Antidepressants can take several weeks or even months to create a noticeable difference in your moods and symptoms. Additionally, some patients have treatment-resistant depression, which means that conventional medications don’t help.

Spravato

Spravato, also known as esketamine, is an FDA-approved nasal spray designed to reduce symptoms of treatment-resistant depression, or depression that doesn’t respond to other forms of treatment. While relatively new, Spravato has been shown to relieve depression symptoms when combined with an oral antidepressant.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

TMS is an innovative, FDA-approved treatment that uses a magnetic pulse to stimulate neurotransmitter activity in the mood-regulating region of your brain. It’s a safe alternative to conventional medications that often provides rapid relief when other treatments have failed. 

Counseling

Counseling is another critical part of depression treatment. While the team at Live Well Psychiatry does not offer in-house counseling services, they can refer you to a provider that can help you explore and understand why you’re feeling depressed. In counseling, you can learn strategies to help you cope with your negative thoughts and feelings and make healthy choices. 

Lifestyle modifications

The team at Live Well Psychiatry also recommends lifestyle modifications to enhance your overall health, making it easier to cope with depression. They might recommend dietary adjustments, exercise, meditation, or other activities to help you feel better. 

Call Live Well Psychiatry today for expert treatment of depression.