Major depression is a mood disorder that causes you to be in a constant state of depression or sadness. You may feel that you are under an emotional cloud that you cannot get out from underneath. A mental health treatment program can help you identify the root causes of depression and develop skills to cope with your condition. Depression treatment can also help you with any addictions you have as a result of depression.
If you feel depressed all the time but do not know if you need professional care, you may want to schedule a treatment specialist’s meeting. They can answer your questions, discuss your condition, and conduct a comprehensive assessment of your condition to determine if treatment is necessary.
Understanding Major Depression
Everyone gets down from time to time. Depression is the brain’s normal reaction to challenging situations. Depression or anxiety can be healthy, as it motivates you to deal with the challenges in front of you. However, depression often requires a depression treatment program from a counselor or therapist who can help you navigate your condition.
The main difference between occasional depression and major depression is that you may find it difficult to snap out of your depressed state. You feel a mental cloud that follows you wherever you go. Eventually, depression becomes debilitating. You may slowly disengage from daily life and relationships. All you want to do is stay in bed and draw the curtains.
Causes of Major Depression
It is not known exactly what causes depression. However, several contributing factors could trigger your condition. Some of the most common causes of clinical depression include:
- Biological Changes: You may appear to have physical changes in your brain. Slight changes in the brain can lead to conditions such as depression or anxiety. Changes in brain activity can also occur as a result of drug or alcohol addiction.
- Brain Chemistry: Changes in the way neurotransmitters work in your brain can also lead to depression. If the neurotransmitters are not interacting correctly with neural circuits in your central nervous system, it can affect your mood’s stability.
- Hormones: If your hormones are out of balance, it can trigger depression that you have a difficult time shaking off. Changes in hormones can occur at different stages of your life from childhood into adulthood.
Symptoms of Major Depression
Depression can affect each person in different ways. However, there are common symptoms of clinical depression, such as:
- Constant sadness or hopelessness
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Overall lack of energy
- Reduced appetite
- Inability to concentrate
Depression can also cause overwhelming feelings of guilt or worthlessness, as you may fixate on self-blame or past failure. You may have problems focusing or making decisions, as well as remembering things. If you have severe depression, you may have thoughts of suicide or death. Your body can also take a toll, as you continuously feel physical pain or tightness.
Depression and Addiction
If you have an addiction to drugs and alcohol while amid depression, you may have co-occurring disorders. These are two conditions that occur at the same time. Your addiction may have caused your brain to go into a depressed state. Likewise, your depression could have triggered an addiction, as you drank or took drugs as a form of self-medication.
A substance abuse treatment program offers dual diagnosis as a way of treating co-occurring disorders. A therapist can assess your situation and recommend a treatment program that helps you manage the symptoms of depression while overcoming your addiction. With the right treatment, you can recover from both conditions and start living a normal life once again.
Get Help at Sunflower Wellness Retreat
If you need help with major depression, contact Sunflower Wellness Retreat at 855.730.8825. We provide comprehensive depression treatment at our mental health treatment center in Kansas. Call us today and get started on the path to recovery.
