Depression Treatment in Los Angeles
We Treat A Wide Range of Disorders
from Mental Health to Substance Abuse
Whether you or a loved one are struggling with mental health issues and substance use disorder, we are qualified to be able to help you find recovery. Â
Depression is a debilitating condition that is often hard to find good treatment for. Yet it can destroy your quality of life, wreck relationships, and even lead to suicide. In any given year, it affects roughly 17.3 million American adults or about 7.1% of the US population 18 and up.
Those experiencing depression want to move on with their lives and need high-quality depression treatment in Los Angeles that works with them and helps them achieve recovery. While depression often recurs, treatment can resolve symptoms and allow the person to recover and return to their normal life and activities.
What Is
Depression
We all get sad sometimes. It is normal to be unhappy when something has gone wrong, when a person or pet has died, or even just when you have had a bad day. Temporary depression can result from grieving, the loss of a job, etc, and while they may need clinical help (such as from a grief counselor), they typically recover given time.
This kind of depression is experienced by most of us at some point in our lives, but for people not prone to clinical depression, these feelings are typically transient.
But while these kinds of short term depression are normal, some people can experience depression that is ongoing and so severe that they are unable to function in normal life and may consider ending their own life.
Depression can make you not want to get out of bed, it can result in not making it to work, it can cause people to lose their job. It is a very real illness that can have a devastating impact on somebody’s life, relationships, and career.
Symptoms of
Depression
There are various kinds of depression, some of which can develop under unique circumstances, such as postpartum depression or seasonal affective disorder (in which you get depressed either during the winter or the summer). But they generally show the same symptoms.
- A persistent bad mood, being sad, anxious, or empty.
- Pessimism and hopelessness.
- Irritability.
- Irrational feelings of guilt or worthlessness.
- Loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities.
- Decreased energy.
- Slower movement or speech.
- Difficulty sitting still.
- Difficulty concentrating and remembering.
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Changes in weight and/or appetite
- Suicidal ideations or self-harm.
- Headaches, digestive problems, or aches and pains that have no apparent cause.
A depressed person may suffer from any of these symptoms, and they also have to be persistent. For a diagnosis of depression, the person has to have a low mood and several persistent symptoms. How much somebody needs treatment depends on the number and/or severity.
These symptoms should warrant talking to a medical professional. Remember that depression is not something to be ashamed of and can be treated. Most people with depression can lead a normal life. In some cases, depression will resolve completely, although often with the risk of it coming back.
Types of
Depression
While a number of people believe that depression is simply one condition, it is actually a term used to refer to multiple types of depressive states. While you are not able to diagnose yourself, speaking with a trained professional can help you identify which disorder.Â
Major Depression
Major Depressive Disorder is characterized by severe depressive symptoms such as insomnia, apathy, exhaustion, low confidence, and or difficulty concentrating. These symptoms have to be prolonged and deeply felt.
These symptoms affect a person's ability to function in day-to-day activities. The effects of major depressive disorder will typically last for months even years. It changes how they interact with people, their emotional state, and their behavior.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)
Persistent depressive disorder, also called dysthymia is a lesser form of depression but can last longer. Oftentimes, individuals who struggle with persistent depressive disorder will consider their symptoms to be personality traits rather than real problems.
Bipolar Disorder (BD)
Also known as manic depression, bipolar disorder includes episodes of moods that range from extreme high energy to a low depressive state. When someone is experiencing a manic state, they will exhibit no depressive symptoms. However when its over, the individual will experience depressive symptoms like that of major depressive disorder.
Prescription antidepressants are not alway the first line of treatment but individuals will often use medication in order to bring their mood swings under control.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder most often occurs when during the winter months when the days are shorter and indviiduals get less sunlight. Once spring and summer begin, people will usually see these symptoms go away.
SAD can be hard to diasgnose so speaking with a professional at Solace Treatment Center can help greatly.
Postpartum Depression (PPD)
Those who experience major depression in the weeks and months following childbirth may have postpartum or peripartum depression. In the peripartum period, about 1 in 10 men experience depression. It is similar to treating major depression that is unrelated to childbirth with antidepressant drugs.
What Causes
Depression?
Depression is very common, and is caused by a mix of biological and environmental factors. Because of this there are three primary risk factors:
- Family history of depression
- Major life changes, stress, or trauma.
- Certain illnesses or medications. Diabetes, cancer, heart disease and Parkinson's disease both cause depression and can be made worse by it.
Often the first two factors are combined. Somebody already has a genetic propensity for depression and then when they go through a negative life event, they are affected worse than average, take longer to recover, and suffer more. Once somebody has experienced depression once, they are more likely to be depressed again in the future.
Substance abuse often co-occurs with depression as people try to “self-medicate” to improve their mood.
Treatment Options for Depression
with Solace
People with depression may or may not need medication. At our depression treatment center in Los Angeles, our focus is on non-pharmacological treatments, but these may be done on their own or in conjunction with drugs.
Our focus is on clinically proven therapeutic techniques and finding the one which works for each individual patient. We offer cognitive behavioral therapy, which is an evidence-based treatment for symptoms of depression as well as anxiety and substance use disorder.
It is not uncommon to have depression and anxiety at the same time, and CBT can help with both. We also provide experiential therapy, which can help improve self-esteem and interpersonal relationships. Experiential therapy consists of engaging in enjoyable activities such as hiking, yoga, or art, with a mind to improve mood, build good habits, and potentially discover a hobby they have an interest in continuing in the future.
We also utilize the use of physical exercise in our programs. Exercise is seen to alleviate symptoms of depression by providing a boost to mood and encouraging a healthier lifestyle. Continuing to exercise can help keep depression from coming back. Also, people with depression often find themselves becoming less physically active.
Exercise becomes a lifestyle habit that keeps people healthy in the long term. Encouraging them to do so helps ensure that depression does not lead to or exacerbate other health issues by keeping the person sedentary.
Depression Treatment
in Whittier
At Solace Treatment Center, we offer treatment that is tailored to meet the specific patient’s needs, to work with their schedule, and help make sure that they achieve their recovery goals. Given the suffering depression can result in, seeking treatment can restore quality of life and even save somebody’s life.
If you or a loved one is struggling with depression call us today at (562) 665-4571. to learn more on how to get depression treatment in Los Angeles.
