Depression

More than 16 million Americans are affected by depression and suffer from negative emotions, thoughts, and other disruptive symptoms. At Potomac Shores Mental Health and Wellness in Woodbridge and Falls Church, Virginia, the team provides expert and compassionate diagnosis and treatment for depression. If your feelings of despair and other depression symptoms interfere with your life, call or schedule an appointment online today.

What is depression?

Depression is a mental health condition that causes a depressed mood and intense sadness that interferes with your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It’s one of the leading causes of disability and lost work in America.

What causes depression?

A chemical imbalance in your brain is the root cause of depression. If you have insufficient neurotransmitter activity in the regions of your brain that regulate mood, your risk of developing depression is high.

Other factors that contribute to depression include:

• A family history of depression or other mental health issues
• Your hormones
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Addiction
• Chronic or severe illness such as cancer, pain disorders, or heart disease

Something that happens in your life may also trigger depression. For example, while grief often subsides over time, the loss of a loved one or another loss in your life can cause depression. 

Additionally, if you have a history of poverty, neglect, or abuse, your chances of developing depression increase.

What are the symptoms of depression?

A sad or depressed mood with pervasive feelings of despair, worthlessness, or guilt are the most common signs of depression.

However, depression also causes a wide range of other symptoms that severely impact your quality of life, including:

• Changes in your sleep habits, such as sleeping too much or too little
• Changes in appetite
• Lost interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Fatigue
• Increased purposeless activity, such as pacing or wringing your hands
• Poor concentration and indecisiveness
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate help if you are thinking of hurting yourself or suicide.

How is depression treated?

At Potomac Shores Mental Health and Wellness, the team aims to regulate your mood and restore your quality of life with compassionate, multidisciplinary care.

Treatment begins with a thorough assessment of your mental health and physical and emotional well-being. Your provider uses the evaluation to create a treatment plan that involves a combination of medicine, therapy, and lifestyle modification. 

For example, while antidepressants help alleviate your symptoms by regulating your brain chemistry, you’ll also benefit from therapy to expose and resolve any underlying issues that contribute to your condition.

Additionally, making changes to your diet, exercise, and sleep habits can improve your overall health and make it easier for you to cope with depression and make progress in therapy.

If you’re concerned about depression and think your symptoms get in the way of your overall wellness, call Potomac Shores Mental Health and Wellness or make an appointment online today.