If you experience frequent or chronic low moods with difficulty finding joy in life, then you may be suffering from depression. These feelings may be a normal response to a particular event in life, but they may also be a sign of a more significant disorder. Depression may be mild or severe, interfering with life in such a way that daily activities seem difficult or impossible.
Common symptoms of depression include:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Irritability, restlessness
- Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
- Fatigue and decreased energy
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
- Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
- Overeating, or appetite loss
- Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts (If you feel suicidal, please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-SUICIDE)
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment.
While everyone has a few of these symptoms from time to time, if they persist for more than two weeks or significantly interfere with life, then they may be part of a more serious disorder.
Often time, it may become so difficult maneuvering through life that you may be unable to do what is needed to get better. Life can seem overwhelming and unmanageable. In such cases, medications may be beneficial in alleviating these symptoms thus allowing you to regain control of your life.
For many, routine psychiatric treatments do not lead to adequate improvement. Our Treatment Resistant Depression Program includes cutting-edge treatments such as Spravato (intra-nasal S-Ketamine), in addition to aggressive medication management, and intense psychotherapy.
At Psychiatric Associates of Pennsylvania, we believe in using a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacology to help with depressive symptoms of all severities and durations, whether it is a normal response to a specific life event, or a chronic struggle throughout your life, we can help.