How Is PTSD Diagnosed?
Millions of Americans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the feelings of intense anxiety it can cause. Fortunately, treatment can help — and it all begins with a diagnosis. Here’s what’s involved.
Using Psychotherapy to Treat Depression
Your mental health affects everything you do and plays a crucial role in your overall quality of life. If you’re suffering from persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, you’re not alone.
In fact, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, an estimated 40 million adults — that’s more than 18% of the population in the United States — struggle with chronic depression.
At Bowman Medical Group in Beverly Hills, California, our skilled and highly experienced psychiatrists work with you to personalize a treatment plan that helps you get beyond the negative emotions so you feel happier and hopeful again.
Is it depression?
Major depressive disorder, commonly called depression, has a few telltale symptoms, including:
- Poor concentration
- Suicidal thoughts
- Restlessness
- Loss of interest in activities you enjoy
- Listlessness
- Sense of purposelessness
- Sleep disturbances
- Frustration
- Guilt
- Obsession with previous failures
- Outbursts of anger
- Loss of productivity
Depression and anxiety often go hand-in-hand. It’s estimated that nearly half of all people with depression also deal with anxiety.
How psychotherapy improves mental health
Even though your depression feels all-consuming, it’s a condition that can be treated with tremendous success. At Bowman Medical Group, we specialize in psychotherapy to help you identify what’s causing your chronic low mood and sad feelings.
Colloquially called talk therapy, psychotherapy includes cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, interpersonal therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and psychoanalysis. Psychotherapy is our treatment of choice because it:
- Allows us to talk through emotional, social, and physical issues
- Helps you identify and reframe your own negative thoughts
- Uncovers events from your past that are triggering your feelings
- Gives you tools to improve strained relationships
- Outlines strategies to help you reimagine joyful living
Through your psychotherapy sessions, you acquire life skills that you can use from today forward to help you successfully deal with unhelpful thoughts, bad feelings, and negative ideas.
What to expect if you choose psychotherapy for depression
Our clients generally see excellent improvement after about eight counseling sessions in our calm and comfortable office. Sometimes, this is enough to improve your acute issues and get you back to productivity. If your depression is severe, we may partner with you over months or even years to work through complicated issues and concerns.
Psychotherapy is a collaboration, and we’re passionate about earning your trust so you can be completely honest about your feelings, actions, and emotions.
Depending on your unique needs, we may conduct psychological testing or prescribe medication to complement your psychotherapy sessions. In addition to our in-office therapy, we may assign some thoughtwork and emotional exercises for you to do at home.
For thorough and compassionate care to help you recover from your depression, call us today to get started with treatment.
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