What is Depression?

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Depression treatment options in Austin, Texas are available. Many in the U.S. struggle with depression without reaching for help. Depression is typically clinically diagnosed as a mood disorder that has lasted more than two weeks. Also known as clinical depression or major depressive disorder, it affects how the person feels, thinks, and manages daily responsibilities in a serious and negative way.

Though not an exhaustive list, the National Institute of Mental Health identifies these common types of depression:

  • Persistent depressive disorder. This is depression that has lasted for at least two years. The length of the depression is the key to diagnosing this, even if the depressed person fluctuates between very heavy depression and periods of more lightly depressed moods.
  • Postpartum depression. While woman often experience some mild depression in the first couple of weeks after delivery, postpartum depression can occur during pregnancy or for a prolonged time afterward. They can have trouble caring for their baby or themselves because of heavy anxiety, sadness, and exhaustion.
  • Psychotic depression. When a person begins hallucinating or suffers from delusions to accompany their depression, we refer to this as psychotic depression, which might include excessive feelings of guilt or unfounded concerns about illness and other conditions.
  • Seasonal affective disorder. Winter can have a very negative effect on those with seasonal affective disorder, which causes a person to become lethargic and anti-social during the winter months.
  • Bipolar disorder. While many people use the term “bipolar,” it is not always well understood. Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood shifts, between a high, euphoric feeling and a low, heavily depressed (and possibly irritable) mood.

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

Our mental health professionals understand and apply evidence-based depression treatment options. Symptoms of depression vary greatly from person to person, but if someone has a combination of some of these symptoms for over two weeks, there is likely reason for concern:

  • Sleep issues, either excessive sleep, or lack of sleep
  • Feelings of pessimism, sadness, and despair
  • Feelings of emptiness and apathy
  • Feeling guilty or worthless
  • Lack of normal energy and slowed movements
  • Decreased interest in normal activities and hobbies
  • Apathy toward regular social circles
  • Dramatic changes in weight
  • Restlessness
  • Concern or complaints about aches and pains without a known physical cause
  • Considerations of suicide or other self-harm

Who is at Risk of Needing Depression Treatment?

Virtually anyone can be at risk, as depression occurs in all age groups and is a common mood disorder. Here are some factors for who may be at risk:

  • Someone with a serious medical condition. When a serious ailment impairs someone’s ability to live their normal life or causes concern about their long-term prognosis, the person can easily become depressed.
  • History of depression. Whether the person has a history of depression or their family members do, this a well-recognized risk factor.
  • Recent trauma. Traumatic events can take on an outsized role in someone’s mind, triggering a depressed mood.
  • Major life changes. When someone ends a relationship, changes jobs, or experiences other significant life changes, the event can become overwhelming and lead to major depressive disorder.

How do you Treat Depression?

Finding a good mental health treatment center in Austin, Texas can be difficult. Everyone is unique, and there is no single treatment that works for everyone. Oakvine Recovery Center understands this and tailors our patient treatments accordingly. Depending on what we learn about you, we may consider the following:

  • A variety of antidepressants—including Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil and others—have proven very effective at treating clinical depression. They change the way your brain controls mood and stress through chemicals, and may be taken for a limited trial of a few months up to regular usage for the rest of your life.
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy. Often a patient will become depressed because of certain situations or environments in their life, which we identify as “triggers.” Once we help pinpoint what those are, we help the patient develop strategies to avoid or overcome these triggers.
  • Interpersonal therapy. Sometimes the root of clinical depression is not an event, illness or family history, but involves the patient’s personal relationships. Oakvine can help you communicate and engage more effectively with others.
  • Goal-setting. Our trained counselors can help you set manageable goals, such as regular exercise, more social activity, confiding in others, and reasonable expectations for recovering from major depressive disorder.

For some suffering with depression, our PHP drug rehab program is a good fit. For others, it may be our IOP program. Either way, our experienced staff can help.

Being the Best Drug Rehab in Austin Means you Treat all of the Underlying Causes of Addiction, including Depression

For someone suffering from depression, the most important thing to understand is that you’re not alone. We know that most addiction issues have co-occurring disorders like depression. That is one of the reasons professional therapists like the ones at Oakvine Recovery Center know how to help. We would love to give you a tour of our treatment center. You can confidentially call our mental health counselors at (877) 255-6890.