Depression Treatment Centers That Go Beyond Symptom Management

Depression can be caused by many things, and often, a person who develops depression does so because they experience more than one of the following causes. Contrary to previous beliefs, depression is not within a person’s ability to control, so advice about simply “thinking happy thoughts” or “being grateful” is usually not effective.

• Biochemical: Depression can be caused by an imbalance of hormones or neurotransmitters in the brain. Serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine are often linked to depression. Serotonin is linked to learning and memory as well as the regulation of body temperature and hunger. Dopamine is connected to feelings of pleasure and motivation. Norepinephrine is related to the “fight-or-flight” response, and it affects mood and memory as well.
• Genetic: Genes can also affect one’s risk for developing depression. A person who has a family member with depression is more likely to develop depression as well.
• Environmental: Environmental causes, like trauma, death, chronic pain, or abuse, can sometimes cause depression. In these instances, a person may not be able to process the situation, or their grief becomes persistent to the point of affecting their interest in daily activities over an extended period.

Anyone can develop depression for a variety of reasons. However, it does appear that women are more susceptible to depression than men, and young people are more susceptible than older people. Often, it first manifests during one’s teens or twenties.

Symptoms of depression are wide-ranging, so a person with depression may experience the disorder differently than another person also diagnosed with depression. Some common symptoms include:

• Sad, hopeless, or despairing feelings
• Lack of interest or pleasure in activities that used to interest you
• Excessive crying
• Fatigue (sometimes accompanied by excessive sleep)
• Changes in appetite
• Inability to concentrate
• Irritability
• Physical issues like stomachaches or headaches
• Suicidal thoughts or ideation

While every person experiences sadness, irritability, headaches, and tiredness on a regular basis, depressive symptoms are excessive. This means that they occur for most of the day, every day, for two weeks or more. However, depression is very treatable.

Like many mental health disorders, depression can affect an individual’s mental and physical health, as well as their relationships with friends, coworkers, and family members.

Although depression is a mood disorder, it can affect a person’s physical health. Aches and pains, like joint pain or headaches, can be difficult to deal with on their own, but they can also present as a part of depression. Depression can also affect a person’s nervous system and lower a person’s pain threshold. Depression can also suppress the immune system, making those with depression more susceptible to illness.

Depression also affects a person’s relationships. Because of their persistent low mood or lack of interest in activities, a person with depression might avoid friends or family or leaving the house altogether. He or she might also have a challenging time finding the motivation to continue with their work, which may make it difficult to hold a job. Friends and family members may not understand the disorder or how to help their loved one, leaving them feeling helpless or even angry at the person with depression.

Depression and substance use often create a feedback loop, where one fuels the other. For some, depression comes first, leading them to self-medicate with alcohol, stimulants, or opioids in an effort to feel something different.

For others, prolonged substance abuse changes the brain’s reward system, triggering depressive symptoms once the substance is gone. This is especially common during early recovery, when the brain’s chemistry is still undergoing a process of healing.[2]

Clients may report feeling emotionally flat, unmotivated, or hopeless even after they’ve stopped using. This is what’s known as depression after drug abuse, a condition that’s often misdiagnosed or overlooked. Without targeted support, individuals are more likely to relapse, simply trying to escape the emotional pain. That’s why dual diagnosis care is crucial.

Like other mood disorders, depression is not diagnosed using medical tests. Instead, a doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist meets with a patient to ask about their symptoms, medical history, and mental health history.

A doctor would diagnose a person as having depression if he or she presents with at least five of the symptoms listed above. These symptoms need to be persistent, happening all day for at least two weeks. The physician might also order blood tests or other kinds of medical tests to make sure that symptoms are not being caused by underlying physical issues.

Once a person is diagnosed with depression, he or she will want to seek treatment. Depression is often treated with evidence-based psychotherapy, but certain medications can be helpful as well. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle (eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, etc.) can also help improve depression.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the most common kind of therapy used to treat depression. The goal of CBT is to change a person’s thought patterns and, therefore, their behavior. This kind of therapy can be done individually or in groups. It can also be conducted on its own or in conjunction with medication.

Some people might engage in therapy for only a couple of weeks, while others continue for months or years.

Medications

Antidepressant medications are also commonly used to treat depression. These medications target the production of serotonin or other hormones or neurotransmitters to help balance a depressed person’s brain chemistry.

Complementary Medicines

Sometimes complementary medicines can be useful in treating depression. These sorts of treatments include acupuncture, massage, and hypnosis. Complementary practices can be used in conjunction with talk therapy and/or medication.

Brain Stimulation Therapy

Brain Stimulation therapy is typically the last form of treatment used for depression. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) are two types of brain stimulation used to treat severe depression that doesn’t respond to other kinds of treatment.