Depressive disorder is one of the most common mental health issues in the United States. In fact, more than 22.5 million American adults live with the disorder, which may range from mild to severe and may or may not respond well to treatment. If you suspect you have this disorder, depression treatment centers in Florida can craft a personalized treatment plan to help you enjoy life again.
What Are the Symptoms of Depression?
Depression can be difficult to detect because it could initially mimic a physical illness or seem like a temporary bad mood. However, you might have depressive disorder if you experience any of these symptoms for at least 2 weeks:
- Low mood
- Irritability
- Crying spells
- Fatigue
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Reduced appetite or stress eating
- Suicidal thoughts
- Urge to self-harm
Everyone goes through the occasional rough patch. If you’ve experienced the death of a friend or loved one or another major setback, you may simply need time to recover. Hormonal changes from premenstrual syndrome and menopause could also trigger the symptoms. However, if these issues don’t go away, you may need depression treatment.
What Are the Options for Treating Depression?
Your care team may try different approaches to treat your depression, and some will show better results than others. A major aspect of effective depression treatment is experimenting with various methods and sticking with whatever combination works best for you. This usually involves continuous evaluation and periodic adjustments as your condition changes and you progress through treatment.
Counseling
Counseling is usually part of a depression treatment plan. This no-risk approach often helps individuals manage depression and learn coping strategies. Various evidence-backed approaches are commonly used, such as dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Group therapy and family support also may be components of the talk therapy portion of a depression treatment plan.
Medical Assessments
During depression rehab in Florida, your psychiatrist may prescribe medication. However, before you start taking it, your doctor will assess your overall health and take a medical history to ensure it’s safe. This workup may identify several red flags that could affect your treatment, including:
- Current medications. Some drugs, especially corticosteroids and isotretinoin, are linked to depression.
- Family history. Depression tends to run in families, and your risk is higher if your parents or siblings dealt with it.
- Trauma. Depressive disorder can manifest after a traumatic event, such as physical, mental or sexual abuse.
- Chronic pain. Long-term pain grinds you down and makes it more likely you’ll develop depression and associated sleep disorders.
- Grief. Tragic events can cause temporary depression or trigger major depressive disorder in people already prone to it.
- Personal conflict. A stressful personal life has been linked to the onset of depression and the worsening of existing symptoms.
- Substance abuse. Many street drugs trigger or worsen depression, and it’s extremely common for people with depression to also show signs of addiction disorders.
After your doctor evaluates your history and current conditions, you may be prescribed various medications to get control of your depression symptoms. There are several classes of these drugs, and you may have to try more than one to find a combination that works.
Medication Options
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants target the specific brain chemicals associated with depression. This is one of the oldest classes of depression drugs, and they’ve largely lost popularity among doctors treating depression. These drugs work by changing the way brain cells communicate, relieving symptoms at the cost of sometimes unpleasant side effects.
Antipsychotics
Depression is sometimes resistant to treatment. Antipsychotics were originally developed to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Now, they’re often used as add-ons to antidepressants. They work by blocking the high levels of dopamine thought to cause both schizophrenia and some symptoms of depression.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram and paroxetine are the first choice for many depression treatment plans. SSRIs work by boosting serotonin levels in the brain. This class of drugs is fairly widely prescribed for a range of mental health conditions. Each drug’s side effects can vary between individuals and depend on other medications they’re taking. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are a related class of medications doctors favor for people with multiple symptoms.
Atypical Antidepressants
Atypical antidepressants are a miscellaneous category of antidepressant drugs. They don’t fit neatly into other categories, and they don’t necessarily have many things in common with each other. Some drugs in this class work on serotonin, others on dopamine, while still others do both. Common side effects of atypicals include dizziness and dry mouth, but some people experience more serious reactions. If you’re prescribed an atypical antidepressant, stay in close contact with your doctor’s office to report any adverse effects as they develop.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors were the first class of drugs approved for the treatment of depression, and they’re still effective for many people. They tend to come with serious side effects, such as elevated blood pressure, so they’re definitely not for everyone. Many mental health professionals have moved on to newer medications as their first choice for depression treatment plans.
Holistic Wellness
Medication may not be your first choice for fighting depression. Many people, especially those with mild-to-moderate depression, prefer to try natural, medication-free approaches to healing. Some lifestyle changes have been shown to help manage depression. Common natural approaches include:
- Improved diet
- Daily exercise
- Meditation
- Yoga or Pilates
- Weight loss
For many people, the improved self-image and better health achieved with these lifestyle changes work very well to reduce their depression. These new lifestyle routines also seem to boost the brain’s serotonin levels, providing an effect similar to many antidepressants. Always check with your doctor before making major lifestyle changes, and listen to professional advice about taking medication in addition to diet and exercise routines.
Does Depression Have a Cure?
Currently, depression doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all cure. The prognosis can also vary according to the individual. While some people recover after a year or two, others must manage their depression for the rest of their lives. However, depression isn’t a terminal illness. When you work with a depression treatment center, you’ll receive the tools you need to change your perspective and find happiness again.
Contact Our Depression Treatment Center in Florida
Depression is a treatable mental health condition you shouldn’t face alone. Sunlight Recovery’s team of compassionate professionals helps people just like you through our depression rehab in Florida. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.
