Depression
Depression is a psychiatric illness. Individuals suffering from depression don’t just feel occasionally sad or “blue”; their symptoms are overwhelming and often interfere with daily life. The illness can seriously affect an individual’s relationships, work/school life, sleeping habits, eating habits, and general health.
Symptoms of Depression
- Low mood that pervades every facet of one’s life
- Inability to enjoy activities that were once enjoyed
- Feeling of hopelessness
- Feeling of worthlessness or self-hatred
- Guilt or regret with no apparent cause
- Poor concentration or memory
- Thoughts of suicide or death
Treating Depression
Individuals at Lakeview Health who suffer from depression in addition to their addiction will have a multidisciplinary treatment plan that combines psychological and medical elements.
Psychological counseling is a large component of depression treatment. This can include individual, group, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy addresses cognitive aspects of depression, specifically the self-defeating behavior typical in afflicted individuals, and aims to change their behavior when they are reacting to certain situations. Psychological treatment can help those suffering from depression learn to cope with everyday situations in a healthy way while getting over self-defeating behavior.
Pharmacological therapy, or treatment with medication, is another important part of depression treatment. A medical professional may prescribe antidepressants, such as Paxil or Prozac, depending on the severity of a patient’s symptoms, to regulate chemicals in the individual’s brain that control mood and behavior. Many find antidepressants beneficial in lessening or eliminating the symptoms of depression.
At Lakeview Health, we believe that a combination of psychological and pharmacological therapies is often the best approach to treating a client’s addiction and depression. Depression treatment can also incorporate meditation and recreational therapy.
If you have any questions about our depression treatment, or if you need help or advice about a drug or alcohol problem, you can call our free Addiction Helpline, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at 1-800-884-1727. You can also reach our Helpline by using Live Chat or through our Contact Us form.
