What is Depression?
Some 14.8 million Americans currently suffer from some type of major depressive disorder. Much more than mere sadness or discontent, clinical depression is feeling intensely and/or persistently sad in a way that does not lessen or dissipate. Depression often interferes with the sufferer’s ability to enjoy life, participate in typical day-to-day activities, and in some cases even progress normally at work, school, or in interpersonal relationships.
Left untreated, the effects of ongoing depression can be devastating. Luckily, you can find help you need courtesy of the expert staff at qualified MVP Health Care depression treatment centers.
Diagnosing Depression
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-5, categorizes a person with a depression disorder as having at least five of the following criteria:
- Feeling depressed for most of the day, especially in the morning
- Experiencing daily loss of energy or fatigue
- Daily feeling of guilt or worthlessness
- Difficulty concentration or making decisions
- Either an inability to sleep or sleeping too much
- Lacking or losing the usual pleasure found in previously enjoyable hobbies or activities
- Persistent suicidal thoughts or thinking about death
- Feeling restless or impeded
- Gaining or losing a significant amount of weight
Physicians at MCP Health Care depression treatment centers are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of people with depression disorders. Whether you’re experience anxiety, fear, or sadness you simply can’t get rid of, there are experts waiting to help.
Treatment for Depression
Treating depression is a process, and finding the right combination of approaches can take time. The good news is that as many as 80 percent of patients show an improvement in symptoms within 4-6 weeks of beginning their treatment for depression. What that treatment will actually entail depends on several factors, including your specific situation, your health and emotional needs, and the blueprint provided by whichever of the covered MVP Health Care depression treatment centers you decide to be admitted to.
- Pharmacological options work to correct your brain chemistry by using prescription medications to help correct hormonal imbalances or treat the side effects associated with depression.
- Therapy for depression exists in several forms. Cognitive or behavioral therapy focuses on your actions and how they affect your depressive disorder. Retraining your brain to better recognize and react to triggers can help you cope more effectively with stressful or disheartening situations. Interpersonal or group therapy is also useful when working to improve your interactions with friends, family, and coworkers.
There is no cure for depression, but MVP Health Care depression treatment centers can help you treat and control your illness so that you have a chance to lead a fulfilling and happy life.