If you are suffering with symptoms of depression, you might have been given advice or heard comments like “Get over it, already…just snap out of it…it doesn’t help that you don’t want to do anything…etc” Clinical depression is a common occurrence both in the United States and throughout the world. We all have times in our life when we experience periods of sadness. Usually these periods go away after a short time. However, major depression (MD) is a condition that can be quite debilitating, affecting a person’s daily life in many ways. Some of the signs of depression include:
Problems with sleep
Frequent fatigue
Significant increase or decrease in appetite
Periods of crying
Anhedonia (inability or reduced ability to experience pleasure from people or activities that usually result in pleasurable feelings)
Thoughts of self-harm
Reduced attention and concentration
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 300 million people worldwide suffer with depression, which has been identified as the leading cause of disability in the world. For an overview, please click here The American Psychological Association (APA) has endorsed a combination of psychotherapy and medication as the most effective treatment for depression, with psychotherapy having been shown to result in a statistically lower rate of relapse (26.5%) than just taking medication (56.6%). Research has also shown the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) in reducing depressive symptoms. Research shows meditation to be just as effective as antidepressants, but without the associated toxicities, prompting the medical journal, JAMA Internal Medicine, to recommend that clinicians be prepared to talk with their patients about the role that a meditation program could have in addressing psychological stress. We specialize in treating depression with a combination of cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and supportive psychotherapy and have been either directly or indirectly involved in the evaluation and treatment of hundreds of individuals suffering with this problem. If you are one of the millions of people suffering with depression, you do not have to “tough it out.” Depression is a serious and painful medical problem that requires professional intervention. You do not have to go through this alone! Our office prides ourselves in creating an environment and professional relationship that is respectful, caring and attentive to your needs during this difficult time.