Depression Treatment
You can get compassionate, scientifically-proven help for sadness through telehealth in Texas, Iowa, Washington, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, or you can come to one of our psychiatric clinics in person.
Overview
What is being depressed?
Depression, also called major depressive disorder (MDD), is a serious illness that changes the way a person thinks, feels, and acts in daily life. More than 21 million people in the US deal with this mental illness every year, making it one of the most common in the country.
Clinical depression is different from normal sadness or loss because it lasts for weeks, months, or even longer and makes it hard to work, be with other people, and enjoy life. Depression is not a flaw in your character or a sign of weakness. It is a complicated brain disorder with roots in your biology, psychology, and social life.
The good news is that depression is one of the easiest mental illnesses to treat. Our experienced psychiatric providers at My Psychiatry care offer personalized care for depression through telehealth in Texas, Iowa, Washington, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, They also offer in-person visits.
Symptoms
Depression Signs and Symptoms You Might Know
The signs of depression are different for everyone and can be mild to serious. If someone has major depressive disorder, they must have signs for at least two weeks, most of the day, almost every day.
Feeling down all the time
Like they have no hope or feel sad most of the day, almost every day.
Tiredness and lack of power
Constant tiredness that doesn't go away with rest, making even small jobs feel hard.
Hunger or Weight Changes
A noticeable rise or fall in appetite, which can often cause weight changes that can be seen.
Feelings of not being worth much
Feeling like a burden to others, having too much guilt, or criticizing yourself too much.
Not Being Interested
Less or no pleasure in things they used to enjoy, like hobbies and hanging out with friends.
Changes in Sleep
Having trouble sleeping, waking up too early, or sleeping a lot more than usual.
Having trouble focusing
Having trouble remembering things, making decisions, or thinking straight.
Symptoms in the body
No clear physical cause for aches, headaches, or digestive problems that you can't explain.
Types
Types of Depression We Take Care of
There is no one type of depression. There are a number of different depressive disorders with symptoms that are similar but vary in length, severity, and reason. Our psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses know how to diagnose and treat all the main types of sadness.
Problems with mood and anxiety
The type of clinical depression that most people have. marked by a persistently bad mood and loss of interest that lasts for at least two weeks and makes daily tasks very hard to do.
Dysthymia, or Persistent Depressive Disorder
A mild to moderate form of depression that lasts for two years or more. It's not as bad as MDD, but it can be just as limited in the long run.
Anxiety after giving birth
Affects some people after giving birth. Symptoms can be mild, like the "baby blues," or very bad, like major depressive episodes that need professional help.
SAD stands for seasonal affective disorder.
Depression that changes with the seasons and usually starts in late fall or early winter when the days get shorter.
Depression That Won't Get Better (TRD)
When more than one normal antidepressant treatment doesn't work well enough for a person. You can choose from more advanced choices, such as our ketamine therapy program that you can do at home.
Depression with Other Health Problems
People with anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, or a drug use disorder often also have depression. The best results happen when all conditions are treated at the same time.
Causes & Risk Factors
What makes people depressed?
No one thing causes depression. It’s usually caused by a number of things that have nothing to do with personal failure or weakness.
Molecular biology
There may be a genetic component to sadness if someone in your family has had it.
How brains work
Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine that are out of balance are closely linked to depression.
Bereavement or long-term stress
Negative events in childhood, grief, abuse, or long-term worry can all lead to depressive episodes.
Health problems
Long-term illnesses, thyroid problems, pain that doesn’t go away, and changes in hormones can all make sadness worse.
A few medications
Some prescription drugs have a known side effect of making people depressed.
Abuse of drugs
Both drinking and using drugs can cause sadness and make it a lot worse.
Things going on in life
Isolation, big changes in life, financial stress, or problems in relationships can all make it worse.
Treatment
My Psychiatry Care can help with depression.
Depression is very easy to treat. Psychiatric care and support that are tailored to each person make a big difference in how well they feel. Our online psychiatrists who handle depression make individualized treatment plans that may include the following:
Evaluation and diagnosis by a psychiatrist
An in-depth look at your symptoms, personal history, way of life, and goals—this is what every good depression treatment plan starts with.
Management of Medication
Many people who take antidepressants, like SSRIs and SNRIs, feel better. We keep a close eye on how you respond and change your medicines as needed to make sure they work best for you.
Therapy Help Lines
We put people in touch with trained therapists who use evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is one of the best ways to treat depression.
Follow-up and support all the time
Because getting better from depression is a journey, not a single appointment, you should have regular check-ins to see how things are going, talk about your worries, and make changes to your treatment plan.
Getting Help
When to Get Help from a Professional for Depression
To get help, you don’t have to wait until things are really bad. You might want to talk to an online psychiatrist if:
Consider reaching out if:
- Your symptoms have been going on for at least two weeks.
- Your depression is getting in the way of your work, relationships, or daily tasks.
- You have tried to feel better on your own but haven’t been able to.
- Alcohol or drugs are helping you deal with your mood.
- You are thinking about hurting yourself or killing yourself
My Psychiatry Care offers telehealth anxiety care across multiple states, along with in-person services at select clinic locations. We provide care for patients of all ages and accept most major insurance plans.
Psychiatric Mental Health & Family Nurse Practitioner
Meet Faith Agho, PMHNP-BC
- ANCC board certified
- Licensed in 5 states
My name is Faith Agho. I am a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with 16 years of experience in the healthcare industry. I am passionate about mental health and committed to providing individualized care that recognizes each person’s unique story and needs. My approach is centered on creating a safe, welcoming, and judgment-free environment where you can feel comfortable being honest about what you’re experiencing. At Faith Bridge Behavioral, I believe that seeking help is a sign of strength.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
My Psychiatry care helps people with depression through telehealth in Texas, Iowa, Washington, Arizona, and Pennsylvania. You can make appointments online from home, so you don’t have to drive anywhere.
It’s natural to feel sad when life gets tough, but those feelings usually disappear after a while. Clinical depression is a medical disorder that lasts for at least two weeks, seriously hinders a person’s ability to operate on a day-to-day basis and won’t go away on its own without therapy.
You can make a new patient appointment online. The provider will do a full psychiatric assessment and collaborate with you to design an individualized depression treatment plan.
Ready to Get Support?
Our compassionate psychiatric team is here to help. Book a new patient appointment today.
