Depression Treatment in Florida That Helps You Rediscover Hope

The typical signs and symptoms associated with depression develop over time and may include:

Psychological

• Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in things previously enjoyed
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive, inappropriate guilt
• Negative thoughts about oneself, the world, and the future
• Difficulty focusing, processing, or making decisions
• Thoughts of death, dying, or suicidal ideation

Physical symptoms:

• Significant changes in appetite and weight
• Sleep disruptions, either insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping)
• Fatigue and low energy
• Psychomotor disturbances, such as slowed movements or speech, or agitation
• Other unexplainable physical symptoms such as headaches or digestive issues

Behavioral symptoms:

• Withdrawal from others, social activities, and responsibilities
• Neglecting personal care, grooming, and daily functioning
• Reduced productivity, difficulty performing at work or school 
• Self-harm behavior in some presentations
• Increased substance use as a coping mechanism

Depression doesn’t have a single cause and usually develops through several factors:

Biological factors: Neurotransmitter imbalances, particularly involving serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, play a role, as well as structural and functional abnormalities in areas of the brain regulating emotions, motivation, and stress response. Activation of the HPA axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) stress response system is also believed to play a role in depression’s biological basis. 

Genetic factors: Depression has a heritable component. Family history of depression accounts for about 40% of the risk of developing the disorder.[5]

Psychological factors: Cognitive patterns which include attributing negative events to themselves, ruminating, and believing that nothing will improve contribute to both initial onset and maintenance of depression, as well as low self-worth and experiencing trauma or adverse events during childhood.[6]

Environmental and life events factors: Major losses, trauma, chronic stress, social conflict, relationship issues, large life changes, social isolation, and physical health issues can cause or worsen depressive episodes.[7] Substance use disorder consistently increases risk of worsening depression neurobiologically and functionally.[8]

Depression is often undertreated because many people dismiss their feelings as normal, believe they can handle it independently, or attribute it to their circumstances. 

Professional clinical support is recommended if you experience the following:

• Low mood, loss of interest in activities, or other depressive symptoms that have persisted for 2 weeks or more.
• Depression is affecting the ability to function at home, work, in relationships, or physical health
• Thoughts related to death, self-harm, or suicide
• Substance abuse has developed alongside depressive symptoms
• Previous depressive episodes have occurred, and similar symptoms are returning
• Coping mechanisms are no longer enough to manage day-to-day life
• Someone close to you is expressing concern

Depression does not typically resolve on its own and tends to recur and worsen without treatment. Early intervention produces better outcomes and reduces the risk of future episodes.

At Agape, depression treatment starts with an evaluation of how depression has impacted you. A clinical and psychiatric evaluation will be conducted to evaluate the severity and type of depression involved, what treatments have been used before, whether there are any co-occurring substance use or mental health disorders, and any additional factors that could impact your ability to recover so that your treatment is tailored to fit your unique needs and goals. Because every person suffering with depression is unique, clinical depression versus dysthymia presents differently, and because many people suffer from multiple diagnoses, our approach to treating depression is comprehensive and multi-faceted.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-established forms of psychotherapy for treating depression.[9] Its primary focus is on reducing the negative thoughts and behaviors that lead to feelings of hopelessness and worsening of depressive symptoms. Since CBT is both effective and practical, it is commonly a central component of many depression treatment plans.