The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once stated, “Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not, and oftentimes we call a man cold when he is only sad.” Depression can manifest in social “coldness,” but it can also manifest in anger, anxiety, and physical pain. Dealing with depression can seem like an uphill battle when someone is in the throes of the mental health disorder. Everything may seem impossible, and taking the first step toward feeling better can be overwhelming. The good news is that depression is highly treatable. If you can make that first step toward an exceptional depression counselor, you can begin the path to recovery.
The depression counselors and psychiatrists at Thriveworks in Tigard, OR are fully licensed and highly qualified to deliver the best care possible to people suffering from depression. The mental health providers at Thriveworks don’t just treat the diagnosis; they treat the whole person. That means taking a number of factors into account, including genetic, environmental, psychosocial, and neurochemical, to help clients achieve their therapy goals.
What Are the Types of Depression?
Before beginning treatment for depression, Thriveworks therapists in Tigard, OR take a close look at a client’s symptoms and get their full history. They need to differentiate between different forms of depression in order to make an effective treatment plan. The types of depression and mood disorders include the following:
- Bipolar affective disorder or manic depression
- Major depression (clinical depression)
- Mild depression
- Postpartum depression (PPD)
- Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) or dysthymia (depression lasting longer than two years)
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
And the type of depression will help dictate the most effective treatment plan. For example, a Thriveworks psychiatrist treating a new mother with postpartum depression needs to take several criteria into account: hormonal changes, the safety of psychotropic drugs if the mother is breastfeeding, and the mother’s support system at home. Whereas a depression counselor treating SAD may consider light therapy to help elevate the client’s mood.
What Are the Symptoms of Depression?
The symptoms of depression can vary whether you identify as male or female, the culture you come from, and your physiology, but depression counselors at Thriveworks in Tigard, OR will be on the lookout for the following symptoms:
- Persistent depressed mood or affect that lasts for over two weeks
- Anhedonia (a loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy)
- Overwhelming feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Physical fatigue
- Unintentional weight gain or loss due to shifts in appetite
- Sleep changes like insomnia or sleeping too much
- Changes in sex drive (libido)
- Substance abuse
- Diminished energy levels in thought and action (psychomotor retardation)
- Irritability (more often seen in men than women)
- Social withdrawal
- Physical aches and pains
- Thoughts of harming oneself (These thoughts can indicate a crisis situation, and a person experiencing them should get help immediately.)
Are Depression and Anxiety Related?
Depression and anxiety often occur together in a cyclic, comorbid (simultaneous) relationship. They’re both extremely prevalent mental health disorders. Sometimes a person suffering from anxiety can isolate themselves from their support system and become depressed. Sometimes a person suffering from depression can start becoming anxious about the way they’re feeling.
Though a person may suffer from depression and anxiety at the same time, the psychological treatment plans can vary. For example, a licensed therapist at Thriveworks in Tigard, OR might consider the following treatments for anxiety:
- Pharmaceutical interventions (e.g., benzodiazepines, buspirone, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors aka SSRIs), prescribed by a licensed Thriveworks psychiatrist
- Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Substance abuse or addiction treatment
- Other evidence-based cognitive therapies
- Self-care through lifestyle changes (diet and exercise)
- Relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing
- Mindfulness
- Group or couples therapy from a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) at Thriveworks, to involve family members
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR)
Whereas a Thriveworks depression counselor may develop a treatment plan that includes the following:
- Pharmaceutical interventions (e.g., antidepressants like SSRIs)
- Psychotherapy
- CBT and other cognitive therapies
- Modifications in diet and exercise
- Holistic treatments
- Behavior therapy
- Couples counseling
- Family therapy
- Substance abuse treatment
Some treatments overlap, but others are specific to the particular disorder.
Start a Relationship with an Exceptional Depression Counselor at Thriveworks in Tigard, OR
When you call the Thriveworks office in Tigard, OR or go online today, you can often meet with your depression counselor as early as tomorrow or the next day. Many clients have appointments within 24-48 hours. Thriveworks clients can also choose between online or in-person therapy sessions. Because all Thriveworks mental health providers are fully licensed, nationwide, they accept most major forms of health insurance. This keeps premium therapy accessible and affordable to most people who need it. We all deserve great mental health care.
Contact Thriveworks today and start getting help for your depression. We look forward to hearing from you!
