Depression is a common diagnosis that can vary greatly in severity, from mild sadness to intense and persistent feelings of hopelessness. Individuals struggling with chronic feelings of being depressed may be suffering from clinical depression, otherwise defined as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). MDD can rob people of normal happy experiences and can make completing even small tasks extremely difficult.
The symptoms of clinical depression can include feelings of emptiness, irregular sleep patterns, outbursts of anger, and a loss of interest in once pleasurable activities. Other symptoms of MDD can include loss of appetite, suicidal thoughts, an increase in restlessness, and irritability. The condition can even cause physical problems, such as headaches and back pain, as well as cognitive problems like poor memory, trouble with concentration, and the inability to make simple decisions.
Although the symptoms can feel overwhelming, the condition itself is completely treatable with the right psychotherapeutic and medical interventions. The depression treatment program at The Delray Center for Healing, located in Delray Beach, South Florida treats MDD. Furthermore, other mood disorders with depressive features. Our treatment team also specializes in working with individuals who have not responded to conventional treatments for depressive conditions.
The first step to determining which types of programs would be helpful in treatment for depression is to get a proper diagnosis. Upon administration, Delray Center for Healing offers patient evaluations which help to determine a diagnosis. These evaluations include:
Physical Evaluation: Because MDD can be the result of underlying health issues and because it can lead to physical symptoms, a physical evaluation is helpful during the evaluation process.
Medical Evaluation: During the evaluation, patients may have blood tests taken. This way, your physician can pinpoint whether depression may have developed as a result of other underlying medical issues like thyroid inefficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and more.
Psychological Evaluation: While biological issues can be the result of depression development, so can underlying, concurring psychological issues. The psychological evaluation will include determining whether or not an individual is experiencing the psychological effects of chronic depression.
DSM-5 Evaluation: The DSM-5 is a diagnostic tool that physicians use to determine correct and accurate mental health diagnoses. Essentially, it’s a diagnostic manual created by the American Psychiatric Association to help physicians all over the nation correctly diagnose mental health patients.
Depression can either be spontaneous or develop as a result of concurring issues or individual experiences. In order for individuals to gain the most from treatment objectives, it’s best to determine why depression has developed in the first place. This way, patients can receive individualized treatment that works to address all issues they face; rather than just treating the symptoms of depression. And, work to develop the daily mindsets and behavioral goals they need to succeed on their own healing journey.
Some mental health issues that can lead to the development of depression include:
Substance Abuse Disorder: Almost half of the individuals who are diagnosed with substance abuse disorder have concurring mental health conditions. And, the most common concurring mental health disorder for those living with substance abuse disorder is depression.
Bipolar Disorders: It’s common for individuals living with bipolar disorders to get a misdiagnosis for depression, as depression is a symptom of bipolar disorders. So, it’s important to distinguish between the two and determine if depression is the result of a bipolar diagnosis.
Other Mood Disorders: Other mood disorders including Cyclothymic disorder or Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder can also lead to the development of chronic depression. Especially, if these issues aren’t addressed with treatment.
Hormonal Disorders: Disorders like hypothyroidism or Premenstrual dysphoric disorder involve hormonal imbalances that can result in the symptoms of depressive disorders. So, it’s important that these hormonal issues are addressed during depression treatment.
There are a number of treatments that are successful in treating depressive disorders. However, since every person is different and may experience different symptoms or have differing life experiences, all treatments won’t be successful for every patient. That’s why it’s important to choose a treatment that offers a number of different options; including those living with treatment-resistant depression.
Some of the methods of treatment available for depression include:
Medications: Various types of antidepressants are successful in helping to reduce the symptoms and severity of depression disorders. There are different antidepressants to address different characteristics individuals may be experiencing due to depressive disorders.
Psychological Services: Psychotherapy can help individuals diagnosed with depression to learn healthy thought patterns and behavior. There are a number of types of psychotherapies effective in helping people with depression including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in both group and individual sessions.
Holistic Methods: Along with traditional depression treatment methods, holistic practices can help greatly in the reduction of depressive symptoms. Some of these methods include acupuncture, yoga, massage, meditation, and more.
Treatment-Resistant Methods: Sometimes, traditional methods of depression treatment aren’t successful. This can be the result of a number of issues including brain changes, underlying medical issues, and experiencing trauma. For these individuals, there are alternative methods of treatment that may yield helpful results. For example, ketamine infusion therapy, which is a newly FDA-approved medication for treatment.
The Depression Treatment Program at The Delray Center for Healing Includes:
Are you or someone you know suffering from feelings of emptiness, anxiety, or hopelessness? If so, clinical treatment may be necessary. So, consider the expert, personable therapy and treatment options at The Delray Center for Healing.
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Dr. Rodriguez founded the Delray Center in 2003 and built it on a foundation of core clinical, professional, and ethical principles that are adhered to still to this day. Dr. Rodriguez founded the Delray Center in 2003 and built it on a foundation of core clinical, professional, and ethical principles that are adhered to still to this day.