What is depression?
Depression is a common but serious mental health disorder that can disrupt your daily life. It can cause constant sadness and affects the way you think, feel, and behave. Depression can create problems in your relationships or at work and school. It can even lead to suicidal thoughts or actions. Seeking treatment is crucial to restoring your mental health and wellbeing.
What are the symptoms of depression?
Some common signs and symptoms associated with depression include:
- Loss of interest
- Tearfulness or sadness
- Feelings of emptiness
- Hopelessness or worthlessness
- Feelings of guilt
- Mood swings, irritability, or frustration
- Angry outbursts
- Sleeping problems
- Fatigue and weight loss or gain
- Agitation or restlessness
- Problems concentrating
- Recurrent headaches or back pain
- Thoughts of suicide
Many people with depression also experience anxiety or feel anxious and fearful about situations that don’t bother most other people.
What are the risk factors for depression?
Anyone can experience depression, but the following factors boost your risk of developing it:
- Traumatic life events
- Low self-esteem
- Family history of depression
- Personal history of mental health disorders
- Being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Taking certain medications
- Having a chronic disease or illness
Ways to lower your risk of major depression include getting regular exercise, properly managing stress, maintaining a healthy weight, having healthy relationships with friends and family, getting treated for substance abuse, and seeking help at the first sign of depression.
How is depression diagnosed?
To diagnose depression or bipolar disorder, which is bouts of depression cycled with mania, Dr. Zafar, and her team review your symptoms and talk about your personal and family medical history. She completes a physical exam, recommends lab tests to check thyroid function when necessary, and completes a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation.
How is depression treated?
Dr. Zafar personalizes depression treatment plans based on the type and severity of your symptoms. She offers:
Medications
Taking certain medications can reduce depression symptoms to restore your mental health and wellbeing. Dr. Zafar works with you to find a medication regimen that best matches your needs.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, involves counseling and a chance to talk about your feelings with Dr. Zafar and her team. They offer cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and other forms of therapy to help you better cope with depression, explore its root cause, and balance your mood.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Noninvasive TMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in your brain to regulate your mood more effectively.
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes can naturally boost your mood like quitting drinking or using recreational drugs, eating a healthy diet, being physically active, getting plenty of sleep, and using relaxation techniques to relieve stress. Examples include meditation, acupuncture, spirituality, massage, yoga, and tai chi.
Don’t live with symptoms of depression when there are effective treatments at Axis Psychiatry that offer relief and a better quality of life. Schedule an appointment by calling the office or scheduling online today.
