Depression

Most gloomy moods are fleeting, but depression is a mental health disorder that can cause years-long periods of melancholy. Psychiatric specialist and nurse practitioner Rachel Christian, ARNP, PMHNP, provides nonjudgemental care and medication management for depression at MRSC Solutions in Royal Palm, Florida. Help is available for your depression: Call MRSC Solutions to schedule an appointment or book an appointment online today.

What is depression?

Depression, or major depression, is a mood disorder that causes severe symptoms that affect how you think, feel, and function in day-to-day life. You may feel pessimistic, hopeless, irritable, or sad. When you have depression, you tend to lose motivation and interest related to the activities and topics you normally enjoy.

Which symptoms come with depression?

Depression symptoms last for two weeks or longer and affect you most of the time. Your depression symptoms might include:

• Sadness, hopelessness, or guilt
• Sleep changes such as insomnia
• Appetite increases or decreases
• Irritability, frustration, and outbursts
• Fatigue
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
• Trouble concentrating
• Physical aches and pains

The worst symptoms of depression can make you feel like life isn’t worth living, but it’s important to know that help is available whenever you need it. MRSC Solutions offers detailed mental health assessments and individualized care that can improve your symptoms. 

What are the risk factors for depression?

Depression usually begins in your late teens or early adulthood, but it can happen at any age. There may be a genetic component alongside other risk factors that indicate your likelihood of experiencing depression, such as:

• Hormone imbalances
• Trauma or major stress
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Chronic medical conditions and pain
• Brain differences or imbalances
• Having family members with depression

Depression often co-occurs alongside other mental health disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. 

What are my treatment options for depression?

With depression, you might find it more challenging than usual to seek the help you need. The first step in managing your depression is to visit MRSC Solutions for a psychiatric evaluation and treatment consultation. 

MRSC Solutions provides individualized care for depression, including medication management. Your provider might prescribe antidepressants as part of your care plan to balance the communicative chemicals inside your brain. In many cases, antidepressants combined with psychotherapy or counseling are the most effective way to manage depression.

Your provider may also recommend ways to alter your lifestyle to be more conducive to mental health improvements. Getting more sleep or exercise, or cutting down on substances like drugs or alcohol, might improve your mood.

If you’re among the millions of people struggling with depression, call MRSC Solutions or request an appointment online today for compassionate care.