Our Services / Depression

What is depression?

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a condition that 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 that you usually find pleasurable disappears, and it can be a struggle to get through each day.

Without the right treatment, depression can become so severe you might consider ending your life. However, even when you reach this stage, the Corebella Health & Wellness team 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 can also include:

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

Everyone’s experience of depression varies to a degree, so you might have all or 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
• Addiction
• Chronic pain

People with depression typically have low levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin in their brains. The risk factors listed above for depression could be lowering the levels of these critical chemical messengers, or it might be that low levels of neurotransmitters are bringing on the depression.

How is depression treated? 

Treating depression involves two primary methods — medication and talk therapies.

Medication

Bringing your neurotransmitters back to a more normal level with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication (SSRIs) can be of great benefit, especially if your depression is severe. There are also other types of antidepressants that could help. Your Corebella Health & Wellness provider works with you to find the most effective medication.

Talk therapy

Talk therapy or psychotherapy is often essential to successfully treating depression. There are various approaches to therapy, some of which address the difficulties you have with distorted thinking, like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Others help you deal with trauma, unresolved emotions, and other triggers for depression.

It’s also important to treat problems you might have alongside your depression, such as pain, substance use disorders, or chronic diseases like diabetes.

If you’re experiencing the agony of living with depression, reach out to Corebella Health & Wellness for compassionate support. Call the nearest office today or book an appointment online.