Depression

Depression causes fatigue and overwhelming sadness, while draining your energy and destroying the desire to engage with other people. If you struggle to face the day because of depression, it’s time to meet with Tamara Elassal, LPC, NCC, and the psychiatry and mental health therapists at Mind Meadow in Fairfax, Virginia. They personalize your therapy to target your needs and lift your symptoms. Don’t wait to seek help, whether through telemedicine or an in-person appointment. Call the office or book online today to regain a positive outlook that lets you enjoy life again. 

What are the different types of depression?

Depression has many possible causes, from significant life challenges to everyday problems. No matter what triggers depression, you can develop several types of depressive disorders, such as:

Major depressive disorder (MDD)

MDD causes sadness and other symptoms nearly every day for two weeks or longer. MDD often makes it difficult to participate in your daily life.

Persistent depressive disorder (PDD)

PDD, originally called dysthymia, causes less severe symptoms than MDD but lasts two years or longer. Though you may have milder symptoms, they still affect your life.

Perinatal depression (postpartum depression)

Perinatal depression is a type of MDD that begins during pregnancy or the postpartum period (the weeks and months after delivery).

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

SAD causes depression in late fall and winter. Don’t think of SAD as a minor challenge. It’s a subtype of MDD (MDD with seasonal onset) and can cause severe symptoms.

What is treatment-resistant depression?

Even after trying several antidepressants, medications fail to improve depression in more than one-third of patients. The failure to respond to medication is called treatment-resistant depression.

What symptoms does depression cause?

No matter what type of depression you have, you experience several of the following symptoms:

• Feeling sad, hopeless, and worthless
• Losing interest in your favorite activities
• Avoiding family and friends
• Gaining or losing weight 
• Having difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• Moving slowly and aimlessly
• Feeling drained of energy
• Struggling to concentrate
• Thinking about death or suicide

You may also have physical symptoms like headaches, body aches, and an upset stomach. 

How is depression treated?

Your Mind Meadow therapist may recommend time-limited therapy to navigate a life challenge. Or, you may need cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to dig deeper, overcome negative thoughts and emotions, and learn ways to cope.

Talk therapy also helps you overcome treatment-resistant depression. When antidepressants work, they improve symptoms by boosting brain chemicals and nerve communication. But therapy also rewires your brain.

The process of talking and learning produces physical changes in your brain, allowing nerves to communicate and function better. With therapy, you gain insight and learn new skills while also improving the health of your brain.

You can feel better and overcome depression with help from the Mind Meadow therapists. Call the office or book online today to start your new journey.