Depression Treatment, Diagnosis, & Causes

By We Level Up | Editor Yamilla Francese | Editorial Policy | Research Policy

Do I need Depression Treatment?

Depression can be a tough condition. You may struggle with it for your whole life if you don’t ask for help. If you battle with symptoms of depression, there is help available. At We Level Up, we offer depression treatment programs to help you get your life back.

Understanding Depression

The National Institute of Mental Health states that depression affects approximately 17.3 million adults in the United States. Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects how you feel, how you act, and the way you think. It causes a persistent feeling of sadness and can affect your ability to perform everyday activities.

Learn More:

• Understanding Clinical Depression
• Alcohol and Depression: A Strong Co-occurring Connection
• Bipolar And Addiction
• Drug Addiction And Depression
• Cocaine and Depression
• Benzos and Depression
• Depression and Substance Abuse Comorbidity
• Rehab for Depression
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Depression
• Neurofeedback Therapy for Depression
• Can You Go To Rehab for Depression?
• Severe Depression Treatment
• Depression Hospital
• Women’s Depression Treatment Center
• Residential Treatment for Depression
• Inpatient Depression Treatment

If you have imbalanced chemicals that affect thoughts, moods, appetite, sleep, and behavior, you may have a higher risk of developing depression. If a close relative suffers from depression, you are also more likely to have this condition because there is a genetic factor involved in its development. Your brain’s structure can also impact your chances of developing depression. Having a frontal lobe that is less active than normal is associated with suffering from a major depressive episode.

Substance use, as well as certain medical conditions, are also risk factors. Suffering from insomnia, chronic illnesses, cancer, and other conditions can affect your chances of developing depression.

Some of the symptoms of depression include:

• Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
• Loss of interest
• Changes in appetite
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Loss of energy or increased fatigue
• Unexplained physical problems, like back pain or headaches
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Angry outbursts, irritability, or frustration, even over small matters
• Loss of sexual desire

In order to receive a diagnosis of depression, these symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. Depression can affect anyone, no matter their age. However, it often starts during the teenage years.

There are different types of depression, and they each require specialized treatment. They include:

• Major depressive disorder (MDD)
• Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Postpartum depression (PPD)
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

To help them deal with the symptoms of depression, many people turn to substances like alcohol and drugs. Although it may seem as though these substances help manage depression, they can actually make depression worse. A substance use disorder can trigger or intensify feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loneliness. Drugs and alcohol also affect your body’s natural dopamine production, making depressive symptoms worse.

Depression is a serious condition and can progress when left untreated, leading to complications. These can include:

• Family conflicts, relationship difficulties, and work or school problems.
• Self-mutilation, such as cutting
• Premature death from medical conditions.
• Pain or physical illness
• Anxiety, panic disorder, or social phobia.
• Alcohol or drug misuse
• Excess weight or obesity can lead to heart disease and diabetes
• Social isolation
• Suicidal feelings, suicide attempts, or suicide

Understanding that depression can lead to physical health issues can encourage someone to get help. This can also motivate them to make changes to manage their symptoms.

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Treatment for Depression

At We Level Up, we offer depression treatment programs to help you with the mental health challenges you face. Treating depression is a complex process. It needs a complete medical assessment. This helps to make sure there are no physical causes for how you feel. At our center, we do a thorough intake assessment. This helps us understand your type of depression and any other disorders you may have.

We offer medications to help treat depressive disorders. This is particularly helpful if a chemical imbalance in your brain is involved in your disorder. Some of the most common medications we provide for the treatment of depression include:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
• Atypical antidepressants
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

The experts in our depression treatment programs often start by prescribing SSRIs. These medications usually have the fewest side effects. Our team of medical experts can help you look at your options. We will find the right medication to treat your depression.

Medications alone may not be enough to help with severe depression, however. Talk therapy and other proven treatments are used with medications to get the best results. Behavioral therapy is the gold standard for the treatment of mild to severe depression.

We offer cognitive-behavioral therapy. This therapy helps you see how negative thoughts affect your feelings and actions. You can learn to identify these negative thoughts and change them before they affect your mood. Cognitive-behavioral therapy also helps you understand the motivations of others, giving you greater insight into your interpersonal relationships.

At We Level Up, we provide dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to treat major depression and other depressive disorders. DBT can help you increase interpersonal effectiveness while also teaching you how to regulate intense emotions and distress. DBT can also help you develop mindfulness skills.

Interpersonal therapy is another excellent therapy option we offer at We Level Up. It aims to reduce depression symptoms by improving your relationships now, not by focusing on past issues.

At We Level Up, we provide group therapy, support groups, family therapy, and individual sessions. These services help you learn how to use the techniques you have learned. For those who lack the motivation to start healing, we also offer motivational interviewing.

We know that clinical depression can impact many parts of your life, including your self-esteem. That’s why we offer holistic therapies to support you.

Treatment-resistant depression is one of the most challenging forms of severe depression. It does not respond as well to medications or talk therapy as other types of depression. If you have treatment-resistant depression, we will work with you to put together a treatment plan that offers relief for the worst symptoms.

At our center, expert mental health professionals can help you with depression treatments that can improve your condition.

Benefits of Inpatient Depression Treatment

At We Level Up, we recommend inpatient treatment for those struggling with moderate to severe depression. Staying at our facility gives you a safe and supportive space. You can escape any problems at home that may affect your mental health.

People who are at risk of harming themselves can benefit greatly from staying in an inpatient setting. Inpatient programs allow you to immerse yourself in treatment and have 24/7 medical support. Our providers are there to monitor and address any side effects and keep you safe while you recover.

Our inpatient treatment for severe or moderate depression also allows you to feel less alone with your condition. You can join support groups and family therapy sessions. These can help you see that you are not alone.

Get Depression Treatment Now

If you struggle with depression symptoms, it is important to get help. At We Level Up, we provide top medications and therapy options to help you manage your mental health.

Contact us at We Level Up today to begin your recovery.

Top 5 Dual Diagnosis Studies with Insights

Here’s a patient-friendly chart of the top five Depression Treatment studies/guidelines.

Here is a useful list of trusted studies and guidance on Depression Treatment. You can use these in clinical documents, program pages, or treatment guides. Each row distills what the evidence implies for treatment and turns it into actionable tips for care teams and admissions scripts. Sources were chosen for recency, rigor, and relevance to integrated treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions