Depression

What is depression?

Depressive disorders are common mood disorders with symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and engage in daily activities such as eating, sleeping, or working.  Major depression requires symptoms be present for at least two weeks.  

There are many other types of depression including Seasonal Affective Disorder, Postpartum Depression, Bipolar Depression, and depression related to a major life transition or grief.

What are the symptoms of depression?

Depressive disorders may cause symptoms such as:

• Persistent sadness or emptiness
• Sleep disturbance - insomnia, oversleeping, or early-morning awakening
• Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt
• Irritability
• Difficulty with concentration or memory
• Decreased energy or fatigue
• Appetite and/or weight changes
• Moving or talking more slowly
• Physical symptoms of pain or digestive problems without a clear physical cause
• Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

Some people only experience a few symptoms, while others experience many.  Several symptoms in addition to low mood are present in Major Depressive Disorder, but subsyndromal depression can also benefit from treatment.

How is depression treated?

Depression, even in severe cases, can be effectively treated.  Treatment for depressive disorders may involve using medication, psychotherapy, or both.  

There are several classes of medication that can be used to treat depression, and our physicians have extensive training and expertise in psychopharmacology.  Several types of evidence-based psychotherapies are also effective in treating the symptoms of depression.  

Treatment-resistant or depression can also be treated with modalities such as brain stimulation therapy via electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), or newer treatments such as ketamine therapy, all of which have FDA approval.  

Your physician will complete a comprehensive assessment of your symptoms and discuss if medication treatment, psychotherapy, or both are appropriate to reduce symptoms.  

Working with Carolina Wellness Psychiatry, PLLC, you can find the optimal combination of therapies and medication to relieve the symptoms of depression. Call today to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.