Depression Treatment | Nassau/Suffolk Counties

Depression

Depression can be crippling. It can feel like the world is crashing down around you and you are falling into an abyss. You may no longer have interest in things you once enjoyed, feel sad, and/ feel as if you are alone. And these are only some of the symptoms. The full list of symptoms for Major Depressive Disorder as defined by the DSM-5 is below.

There are other types of depression, such as persistent depressive disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, seasonal affective disorder, and depression that accompanies bipolar disorder. But the diagnosis is less important than how depression is impacting your life, so some of the below symptoms may still apply to you.

Symptoms

Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.

Depressed most of the day, nearly every day as indicated by subjective report (e.g., feels sad, empty, hopeless) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful)
Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by subjective account or observation)
Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day
Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)
Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide[1]

Anyone can feel depressed; it's normal. Approximately 20% of people will experience depression at some point in their lives[2, 3], and about 6-7% of the U.S. population will experience depression in any given year[2], making depression the leading disability around the world[4]. But it does not have to be that way. It may feel as if there is no way out, but there is hope. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for depression. It can give you hope and help you challenge your thoughts in order to re-engage with your life.

If any of these symptoms resonate with you then feel free to reach out for a free phone consultation.

Sources:

[1] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed). Washington D.C.: American Psychiatric Publishing.
[2] Hasin, D.S., Goodwin, R.D., Stinson, F.S., & Grant, B.F. (2005). Epidemiology of major depressive disorder: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcoholism and Related Conditions. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62 (10), 1097-1106.
[3] Kessler, R. C., & Wang, P. S. (2009). Epidemiology of depression. In I. H. Gotlib & C. L. Hammen (Eds.) Handbook of depression (2nd e.d., pp. 5-22). New York, NY: Guilford.
[4] World Health Organization. (2020, January 30). Depression. Retrieved July 31, 2020, from http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression

Learn more at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America