Depression

What is depression?

Depression is a widespread, severe mental illness that impacts your mood, feelings, thoughts, and actions. Depression causes feelings of intense sadness and decreases your interest in previously enjoyed activities or relationships.

Everyone feels sad or hopeless now and then. For example, if you lose a loved one or have a challenging day at work, you might feel sad or isolated. Depression is different from normal grief or sadness in that the symptoms last longer and may not be tied to a specific situation or loss.

What are the symptoms of depression?

In addition to feelings of intense sadness, hopelessness, and guilt, depression causes other symptoms, such as:

• Changes in appetite and weight
• Changes in sleep habits
• Fatigue or low-energy
• Low motivation
• Poor concentration
• Indecisiveness
• Lost interest in hobbies
• Thoughts of death or suicide

If you have suicidal thoughts, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate treatment.

What causes depression?

Depression is caused by an imbalance of the neurotransmitters in your brain that regulate your mood, including serotonin and dopamine. Depression can emerge seemingly out of nowhere, or you could experience something that triggers the condition. For example, environmental factors such as continued exposure to poverty, neglect, or violence can make you more vulnerable to depression.

Your risk of developing depression is higher if you have a personal or family history of depression or other mental health disorders, such as anxiety or substance abuse. People with poor self-esteem are also more likely to have depression.

How is depression treated?

The team of clinical experts at Open Mind Psychiatry begins depression treatment with a comprehensive psychiatric assessment. You and your provider will have a detailed conversation about your symptoms, overall health and wellness, and personal and family medical history. Your provider may ask a series of questions to uncover symptoms and identify underlying issues that contribute to your condition.

Once your Open Mind Psychiatry specialist understands your depression, they work with you to create a customized treatment program to address your issues. While your treatment plan is customized to meet your needs, they often combine medicine, psychotherapy, and lifestyle modifications.

The team at Open Mind Psychiatry uses GeneSight to support depression treatment. GeneSight testing allows your provider to determine how your genes may impact your response to various antidepressants. This helps your provider choose medications that are more likely to be effective and have fewer side effects based on the individual’s genetic profile.

If you’re living with symptoms of depression, receive the care you need by calling Open Mind Psychiatry or requesting an appointment online today.