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Depression can have devastating, potentially life-threatening consequences, but with the proper support, you can overcome it. John Risi, NP, at New Spirit Health in Mesa, Arizona, provides a comfortable environment for patients requiring help with depression and substance use disorders. He offers effective treatments and gives you the support you need to recover from depression. Find out how New Spirit Health can help you by calling the office today or using the online booking form to schedule a telehealth or in-person consultation.

What is depression?

Depression (major depressive disorder) makes you feel persistently sad, hopeless, and despairing. You no longer experience positive emotions but become weighed down by misery so intense it can leave you unable to function normally.

Depression interferes with your thought processes, so you interpret everything around you negatively. Your interest in activities you usually find pleasurable disappears, and getting through each day can be a struggle.

Without expert treatment, depression can become so severe you might consider ending your life. However, even when you reach this stage, New Spirit Health can offer you hope of a full recovery.

What symptoms does depression cause?

In addition to the negative emotions you experience most or all of the time, depression symptoms may include:

• Appetite changes
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Chronic fatigue
• Slowed movements
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Memory and concentration issues
• Weepiness
• Aches and pains
• Digestive problems

Everyone’s experience with depression varies, so you might have only some of these symptoms. The most significant issue is the mental anguish, which nothing you do can lift.

What causes depression?

Depression doesn’t have a single, definable cause. It’s often a combination of factors that increases your risk of depression or acts as a trigger. These might include:

• Family history of depression
• Low self-esteem
• Poorly managed stress
• Experiencing violence or abuse
• Suffering neglect or living in poverty
• Traumatic life events
• Drug and alcohol misuse
• Chronic pain

People with depression typically have low levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin in their brains. The risk factors above for depression could lower the levels of these critical chemical messengers, or the low levels of neurotransmitters might bring on depression.

How is depression treated? 

Treating depression typically combines medication and psychotherapy.

Medication

Restoring neurotransmitter levels with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can be highly beneficial, especially for moderate to severe depression. Other types of antidepressants could help if SSRIs don’t; New Spirit Health works with you to find the most effective medication.

Talk therapy

Talk therapy or psychotherapy is often essential to successfully treating depression. Some therapy approaches address difficulties with distorted thinking, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Others help you deal with depression triggers like trauma and unresolved emotions.

If you’re experiencing the agony of living with depression, reach out to New Spirit Health for compassionate support. Call today to schedule a consultation, or book an appointment online.