Depression is one of the most common mental health challenges, capable of causing a range of symptoms, from mild feelings that won’t go away to debilitating sadness and lethargy. No matter how you experience depression, Nneka Okoh Godwin, PMHNP, at Calm Psychiatry, PC, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, offers comprehensive treatment through telehealth. It’s hard to reach out for help when you’re depressed, but online visits put treatment within your reach no matter where you live. To schedule a telehealth appointment, call or use the online booking feature today.
request an appointmentWhat causes depression?
Sometimes depression has an identifiable cause; other times it arises without an apparent reason. Many life events can trigger depression. Many people become depressed when separating from their partner, losing a job, moving, or dealing with a chronic disease.
Stressors frequently found in everyday life can cause depression, such as being bullied or dealing with a difficult situation at work.
Depression also develops when you have an imbalance in the neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) responsible for regulating your mood. This problem may trigger depression without experiencing a life challenge.
What are the symptoms of depression?
You may experience mild depression that never seems to improve. Depression can also be so debilitating that it’s hard or impossible to function and take care of daily responsibilities.
Whether your symptoms are mild or severe, depression causes several of the following:
- Feeling sad, hopeless, and/or worthless
- Losing interest in activities you enjoy
- Losing or gaining weight
- Eating more or less than usual
- Sleeping too much or struggling with insomnia
- Feeling fatigued or having no energy
- Finding it hard to concentrate or make decisions
- Having restless, aimless, repetitive, or slow movements
- Thinking about death or suicide
It’s time to seek help for depression when your symptoms last two weeks or longer.
How is depression treated?
Your treatment is based on variables such as the cause of your depression and the severity of your symptoms. Your Calm Psychiatry, PC, provider may prescribe antidepressants and/or recommend psychotherapy. In most cases, a combination of the two produces the best results.
Antidepressants lift your mood by boosting brain chemicals. Medication management often helps people with moderate to severe depression, especially when their low mood makes it difficult to participate in psychotherapy.
Psychotherapy can improve many issues associated with depression, helping you to feel better now and prevent future depressive episodes. For example, you may learn ways to cope with life challenges or techniques for identifying and changing negative thoughts.
If you have insomnia, a problem faced by many patients diagnosed with depression, your Calm Psychiatry, PC, provider can provide the treatment most often recommended for insomnia, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
If you have questions about your symptoms or want to schedule a telehealth appointment, call Calm Psychiatry, PC, or use online booking today.