Depression

At Aurora, we believe everyone deserves a chance to experience the simple joys of life and have meaningful connections with friends and family. Life wasn’t meant to be a daily struggle, but when you’re feeling depressed, even getting out of bed can be a challenge.

What is depression? It’s not just “feeling down” – and it’s not a sad feeling you can easily “shake off.” Depression is a serious mood disorder that persists for weeks or months, interfering with your daily routine and making it hard to go about your life. People who are depressed dwell on negative thoughts and feel constant sadness, hopelessness or emptiness.

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the U.S. Over an estimated 16% of U.S. adults will experience depression at some point in their lifetime, and two out of 10 people are affected by depression each year. If you’re one of them, effective depression treatment is available from Aurora’s nationally recognized team of behavioral health experts.

Types of depression

There are several different types of depression, including:

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of seasonal depression that occurs only during certain months – typically winter. Seasonal depression is usually caused by shorter days and lack of sun exposure.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Major depressive disorder, the most common type of depression, is a mood disorder characterized by the presence of most depression symptoms listed above most days out of the week. MDD symptoms must also include at least one of the following:

• Depressed mood
• Loss of interest in activities

Perinatal and postpartum depression

Perinatal depression is a condition that occurs during pregnancy and up to a year following giving birth. Postpartum depression occurs in the weeks or months following childbirth and is typically longer lasting. It’s commonly confused with the “baby blues;” however, postpartum depression symptoms are more severe, last longer and can make it difficult for you to care for your baby and complete other daily tasks.

Bipolar depression

Bipolar depression, also known as manic depression, is a condition that causes extreme mood changes due to bipolar disorder. These can range from major depressive episodes, involving feeling sad, helpless and having low energy levels, to high-energy manic episodes, characterized by elevated moods such as feeling happy, irritable and having a higher activity level.

Persistent depressive disorder

Persistent depressive disorder, sometimes referred to as dysthymia, is a condition that causes depressive symptoms that last for a period of two years or more. Dysthymia symptoms often involve feelings of low self-esteem and a lack of energy.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a more serious kind of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It occurs a week or two before your period starts and symptoms typically subside after menstruation begins. People commonly experience symptoms such as:

• Intense mood swings
• Irritability or anger
• Trouble concentrating
• Low energy
• Increased appetite
• Insomnia

Causes and risk factors for depression

Depression causes and risk factors may include genetics, environmental influences and personal experiences. You may be more at risk for depression if you:

• Have a family history of depression or other mental health disorders
• Have experienced stress, abuse or a traumatic event(s)
• Have a serious illness or medical condition causing ongoing physical pain such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes

Depression can develop at any age but is often developed in adulthood. The risk of hereditary depression increases by 40% for people with first-degree relatives (parents, children and siblings) who have depression. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with depression – but women are also more likely to seek treatment.

Depression diagnosis

The process of diagnosing depression can take a variety of forms. Where most medical conditions are diagnosed through blood or laboratory tests, these tests are not very helpful when it comes to diagnosing depression.

Medical review

Your doctor will collect family medical history and may perform a physical exam to rule out any physical causes of depression like hypothyroidism – a condition caused by an underactive thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism is the medical condition most commonly associated with the signs of depression.

Symptom review

Your doctor will also talk with you about your possible depression symptoms and administer a depression questionnaire. This questionnaire will let you report your day-to-day mood, behaviors and habits. This kind of depression test (or depression screening) can help your medical provider determine a possible depression diagnosis. From there, they can discuss your depression treatment options.

Depression treatment & services

There is no cure for depression; however, depression is an illness, and it is treatable. A combination of therapy and depression medication, or antidepressants, is often the best treatment for depression.

Cognitive psychotherapy or behavioral therapy are especially helpful in preventing relapse. Cognitive therapy focuses on reframing negative thinking and expectations.

There are also simple lifestyle changes you can make to help improve depression symptoms such as doing regular exercise, getting enough quality sleep and spending time with loved ones.

If a family member has had success in treating symptoms of depression with a certain medication, your doctor may recommend you try the same one. It can also take trying different medications to find the one that’s right for you. Talk to your doctor before stopping your antidepressants. Stopping the medication abruptly can cause symptoms of withdrawal and potentially worsen depression symptoms.

Without treatment, depression symptoms can worsen. Avoiding depression treatment can increase the chances of participating in risky behaviors such as drugs and alcohol, increase the risk of developing dementia and possibly lead to self-harm.

If you think you may be suffering from depression, contact us at 414-773-4312 to schedule a consultation.

* Multiple locations

Find a behavioral health & addiction specialist

Aurora Health Care is here to offer hope and help at one of our depression treatment clinics near you. Use our online search tools to find a doctor near you or contact us at 414-773-4312 to schedule a consultation.