Therapists and Doctors Near Me for Depression

Depressive episodes can sometimes be one-time events but are more often recurring experiences. If you have depression, you may experience one of the following:
- Emotions like sadness, worthlessness, anguish, frustration, emptiness, anger, anxiety, restlessness, hopelessness, self-blame, guilt, irritability, anger, or low self-esteem.
- Brain Fog, or fuzzy thinking, difficulty thinking, focusing, remembering, or making decisions.
- Lethargy, sleeping too much, or insomnia.
- Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches.
- A lack of interest in performing normal tasks, including things you may normally enjoy doing like physical activities or hobbies.
- Weight gain, weight loss, increased appetite, reduced or a loss of appetite.
- Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts.

If you are worried about your safety or the safety of others, please dial 911.

There are many types of depression caused by a variety of triggers, sometimes chemical and sometimes the result of traumatic life events.

These include:

Major depression: People with major depression have depressed moods most of the day for most days of the week.

Persistent Depressive Disorder: If a person has depression for 2 or more years, this is known as persistent depressive disorder. This type of depression has two subgroups called chronic major depression and dysthymia, or low-grade persistent depression.

Bipolar Disorder: Also known as manic depression, a person with bipolar disorder has extremes, ranging from states of low energy and/or mood to periods of high energy and/or mood. Also known as manic depression, bipolar disorder can be treated with mood stabilizer medication, such as Latuda, Seroquel, and Olanzapine-fluoxetine combo.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): A person who has seasonal affective disorder will often feel periods of major depression during winter. Because winter days are shorter than the rest of the year, a person receives less and less sunlight which can cause seasonal affective disorder. Antidepressants may be a great option for someone who has SAD.

Psychotic Depression: If a person has paranoia, hallucinations, and/or delusions during periods of major depression, they may be suffering from psychotic depression. This type of depression can be treated with antipsychotic drugs along with antidepressants.

Peripartum (Postpartum) Disorder: Postpartum depression affects new mothers, typically in the weeks and months post-childbirth.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): This type of depression affects people at the onset of their monthly period. Along with depression, you may feel tired, irritable, unfocused, anxious, overwhelmed, or have changes in your sleep patterns. PMDD can be treated with some birth controls and antidepressants.

‘Situational’ Depression (Stress response syndrome): This is caused by a traumatic or stressful event like moving, divorce, losing your job, or a death in the family, and can likely be treated with psychotherapy.

Atypical Depression: Unlike typical depression, this depression follows more unusual patterns such as feeling overly sensitive to critique, finding you have increased your appetite, sleeping more than usual, or your arms and/or legs feeling heavy.

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Depression can be caused by any number of things, from genetic makeup to traumatic events or medical illnesses. Depression isn't always caused by just one thing; it often results from the interplay between multiple factors.

Your mood and the way you see reality are controlled by a complex system of chemicals. There could be as many chemical reactions in charge of regulating your mood as there are people on the planet. There is not just one chemical that is high or low when you have depression.

Though your chemical makeup is complex, there has been a lot of research to develop medications such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers to help regulate these chemicals.

Some causes linked to depression and chemical makeup include:

Hyperthyroidism: People who suffer from this have an overactive thyroid, which is a butterfly-shaped gland in your throat that helps release hormones. In the Journal of Thyroid Research, it is estimated that up to 69% of people who have hyperthyroidism also have clinical depression.

Hypothyroidism: This is a medical condition of having an underactive thyroid. When a thyroid isn’t as active as it should be, it does not produce the normal amount of thyroid hormones into your central nervous system, which can cause a person to gain weight and feel tired, which are both symptoms of depression.

Certain mental illnesses or mental health conditions: Among them, the National Institute of Mental Health or NIMH has listed psychosis as being linked with depression. The CDC, the United State’s national health protection agency, notes that those who suffer from mental disorders have a higher risk for developing depression due to the stresses from the pandemic.

Stressful Events: Death, divorce, a major move, even Covid-19, can all induce depressive episodes. In fact, during the pandemic, more than 1 in 3 adults have reported feeling depressed or anxious. In 2019, this number was closer to 1 in 10.

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It may be.

Research suggests that major depression can be shared through genes and passed through families. If you have a member in your immediate family that has major depression, you may be at a higher risk of also developing major depression. It is estimated that genetics account for about 50 percent of major depression - while the other 50 percent is caused by other factors, such as those listed above. This means while you may inherit a higher risk of developing depression, it isn’t likely that genes are the sole cause.

According to the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic and statistical assessment manual (DSM-5), unipolar depression and bipolar disorder can have the similar symptoms - with three general differences.

1. People who have bipolar disorder will have manic episodes, which are long periods of atypical mood extremes, whether they be depressive states or elation, thoughts that race, or behaviors that seem extreme.
2. They are treated differently.
3. Unlike unipolar depression, bipolar disorder leaves those who suffer from it always on the brink of mania.

However, not all clinicians agree. Clinical psychology reviews have found evidence suggesting the idea that unipolar depression and bipolar disorder are the same disorder.

There are many effective treatments for depression, including medication, talk therapy, and more. Your doctor - whether a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist - will craft a treatment plan that works for your needs. Treatment options for depression include:

Therapy

Psychotherapy: In-depth talk therapy that is used to examine unconscious or repressed thoughts and feelings and learn tools to address them. If you have experienced trauma, speaking with a mental health professional can be helpful. They can help you learn coping techniques, identify major triggers, and adjust to stressful situations.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): This is a therapy in which small electric pulses course through the brain causing an intentional seizure. This may be an option for someone who has found other therapies unsuccessful.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Behavioral health issues like eating disorders and drug or alcohol abuse can be treated with the use of CBT. This treatment helps change thinking and behavioral patterns. CBT is used to treat a wide variety of conditions including depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse. It can even help with marital problems. CBT offers self-help as it trains you to be your own therapist, teaching you coping skills and how to shift your thinking or behaviors.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT): A common treatment for depression among children, teens, and young adults, IPT is a short-term treatment focused on addressing interpersonal issues.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): Often used when other treatments prove ineffective, TMS is brain stimulation that uses magnetic fields to prompt nerve cells to improve depression symptoms. This is a noninvasive procedure.

Medication

After a consultation, your doctor of psychiatry may determine that your treatment plan should include medication. All prescriptions are at the sole discretion of your doctor. Common medications treating depression include:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs: Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil or Pexeva, Prozac, Viibryd, and Zoloft are some examples of SSRIs. Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs: Some examples include Cymbalta, Effexor XR, Fetzima, and Khedezla or Pristiq.

Atypical antidepressants: These types of medicine don’t fall into either SSRI or SNRI categories. Atypical antidepressants include Aplenzin, Forfivo XL, Wellbutrin SR, and Wellbutrin XL which are all brands of bupropion, as well as Remeron, and Trintellix.

Tricyclic antidepressants: If SSRIs aren’t as effective for your care, a doctor may prescribe tricyclic antidepressant medications, which can be very effective but can also have more side effects. Common medications include Norpramin, Pamelor, Surmontil, and Vivactil.

There are many risk factors linked with taking these types of medicine. Speak with your doctor about which option is best for you. Connect directly with quality doctors through Sesame on your schedule. With Sesame, you get fair, clear prices on all kinds of care. See who you want, not who your insurance company lets you. Book an in-person or virtual visit near you today.