What is depression?
Depression is a mental health condition that manifests itself in various forms of severity and may cause overwhelming and extreme feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or worthlessness. Depression can negatively affect your ability to enjoy life and can interfere with daily activities, work or school performance, and personal relationships.
Grief and sadness affect everyone now and then, but these feelings usually pass with time. The negative emotions associated with depression can last for weeks, months, and sometimes years. Untreated depression may harm your physical health and increase your risk of developing co-occurring conditions like anxiety or substance abuse.
What causes depression?
There’s no single cause for depression. Individual brain chemistry, genetics, hormone levels, and nutritional factors can contribute to the condition. Depression tends to run in families and more women receive a diagnosis of depression than men.
Additional risk factors for depression include:
- Physical or sexual abuse
- Trauma
- History of substance abuse
- Chronic severe illnesses
- Chronic pain
- History of anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Diagnosis of borderline personality disorder
Environmental stress, race, economic difficulty, and being part of a marginalized group also increase your risk of depression.
What are the symptoms of depression?
When you have depression, constant negative feelings can cause you to lose interest in the activities you once enjoyed. You may avoid social contact and find it difficult or impossible to keep up with everyday tasks and responsibilities.
Other signs and symptoms of depression include:
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue
- Reduced appetite
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Struggling to make decisions or take action
- Suicidal thoughts
Physical symptoms like back pain or headaches often occur with depression. It’s also correlated with several health conditions, including heart failure and coronary artery disease.
How is depression treated?
Depression affects everyone differently. Bowman Medical Group designs customized treatment plans to help you manage your depression. Based on your unique needs, your personal treatment plan may include:
- Psychotherapy
- Group, family, or couples therapy
- Antidepressants
- Anti-anxiety medications
If you’ve undergone treatment for depression in the past without success, you may be a candidate for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or esketamine therapy. Bowman Medical Group offers safe, noninvasive TMS therapy, and Spravato™ for patients with treatment-resistant depression.
To schedule an evaluation for yourself or a family member, call Bowman Medical Group or request an appointment online today.
