Common Types of Depressive Disorders
While many people immediately think of major depressive disorder when they hear the word “depression,” the truth is that there are multiple kinds of depressive disorders. Here are a few of the most common versions of this mood disorder.
Major Depression
This is the classic type of severe depression. People feel a dark mood that is all-consuming, causing them to have trouble sleeping, have no interest in previously enjoyable activities, have changes in weight or appetite, and experience other symptoms of depression. They may even have thoughts of harming themselves or ending their lives. Getting effective mental health treatment is essential to managing the disorder and finding joy in life.
Persistent Depressive Disorder
This type of depression is a low mood that has lasted at least two years, but it may not have the intensity people experience with major depression. People can manage daily life but feel joyless and struggle with their mental health. They may also experience low energy, changes in sleep patterns, low self-esteem, and hopelessness.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression, also known as perinatal depression, is a mental health issue that includes significant and minor depressive episodes during pregnancy or during the first year of the child’s life. This affects a significant number of women who give birth and, if left untreated, can have major negative impacts on the women and their families.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that includes episodes of depression along with episodes of high energy known as mania. Manic symptoms seem to be the opposite of depression, but they often lead to self-destructive behavior and are followed by bouts of depression. Treating bipolar disorder requires different mental health medications, but effective treatment can be very helpful in minimizing symptoms.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
SAD is a short-term mental health disorder that happens in the fall and winter when the days are shorter and sunshine is less abundant. The low mood may result from changes in the body’s natural rhythm and the impact of less natural light. Along with therapy sessions, light therapy with a full-spectrum light can make a significant difference.
Depression Symptoms
Understanding depression symptoms can help you recognize when treatment for depression is needed for yourself or a loved one. Common signs that you may benefit from a depression treatment center with clinical staff include the following:
- Persistent sadness or low mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure
- Changes in appetite
- Sleep disturbances
- Lack of energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt (low self-esteem)
- Physical aches and pains
- Feeling depressed despite being on anti-depressant medication
- Suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts
It’s always important to watch for these symptoms in yourself or another person to determine when help is needed. Anyone experiencing a negative impact from depression should reach out to mental health professionals to get the help they need. A personalized depression treatment plan can relieve symptoms and improve your life significantly.
At Woburn’s treatment centers, our team is available to provide mental health treatment for severe depression and any co-occurring disorders like substance use disorder, personality disorders, chronic pain, and other mental health conditions.
Causes of Depressive Disorders
Mental health professionals don’t know the exact answer to what causes depressive disorders, but several factors may contribute. These include:
- Differences in brain chemistry, especially in levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
- A family history of depression
- Adverse childhood experiences such as abuse or trauma
- Stressful events in everyday life, such as losing a loved one or being isolated with little support in times of difficulty
- Substance abuse can impact mental disorders, including depression and other mental health issues
These experiences can be root causes of depression, or you can have co-occurring depression alongside substance use disorder or another health issue. The good news is that high-quality mental health treatment centers can provide treatment for severe symptoms of depression, allowing you to reclaim your life.
Get The Care You Need and Deserve
Woburn Addiction Treatment is a leader in the addiction treatment field, with proven success in facilitating long-term recovery. Our team of top clinical & medical experts specializes in treating addiction coupled with mental illness, ensuring that each person receives individualized care. Call us – we’re available 24/day, 7 days/week.
Levels of Care to Treat Depression
When trying to find treatment for depression, it’s helpful to understand the various levels of care. Depending on your medical history and your symptoms, your treatment plan may include one or more of these programs.
Inpatient Depression Treatment Centers
Inpatient depression treatment allows participants to live at the treatment center for a period of time to receive treatment and medication. These programs may take place in a hospital setting or in a more residential treatment program.
Residential treatment includes a variety of evidence-based behavioral health treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), talk therapy during individual and group therapy sessions, and counseling with family members. During inpatient treatment, you will also have access to psychiatric medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other medications.
Inpatient depression treatment can be especially helpful for severe symptoms of depression, including persistent depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression. You may be able to access electroconvulsive therapy and other approaches to help you overcome persistent mood disorders.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs)
At Woburn Addiction Treatment, we offer outpatient services that range from highly intensive to occasional supportive therapy to help you address mental health challenges, including depression.
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is an outpatient depression treatment program that includes full-day treatment five days per week, allowing patients to return home in the evenings. These programs are a good step down from inpatient care or an ideal place to start for someone who needs extremely focused depression treatment but doesn’t want to live at a facility.
PHPs include individual and group therapy and other behavioral health approaches to teach healthy coping mechanisms and help you address the roots of depression in your life.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)
For those who require focused treatment but are able to live at home and maintain certain daily responsibilities, our intensive outpatient program (IOP) is an excellent option. Intensive outpatient care at Woburn Addiction Treatment includes structured and rigorous treatment services with the flexibility to also work or attend school outside of sessions.
Intensive outpatient programs can be particularly beneficial for individuals transitioning from inpatient or residential treatment for depression.
Standard Outpatient Care for Behavioral Health
Our standard outpatient program provides the essential components of treatment – such as individual therapy, group sessions, and medication management – in a less intensive format. This is ideal for individuals who have completed an intensive outpatient treatment program but need continued support.
In all our programs, we strongly emphasize individualized treatment planning, ensuring that each patient’s goals are met. Depression support groups are encouraged as well.
Treatment Approaches Used in Depression Treatment Programs
Most outpatient and inpatient depression treatment centers use a variety of evidence-based therapies to help patients. Common approaches to treating clinical depression include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This is a type of therapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thinking patterns, allowing them to regain control of their emotions and behaviors to help them overcome depression.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT focuses on teaching new skills to manage uncomfortable feelings and improve relationships, which can be especially beneficial if you’re dealing with co-occurring substance use disorders, anxiety, or personality disorders.
- Family Therapy: This approach involves family members to improve communication and provide a support system for the person dealing with depression. This helps the individual, as well as the entire family, learn how to support each other in a healthy way.
- Individual Therapy: Individual sessions allow for personalized attention, helping patients explore depression and the underlying causes of their disorder and develop strategies that lead to a satisfying life.
- Group Therapy: A therapist runs group sessions, creating a safe space where individuals can share experiences and connect with other people facing similar struggles. This can be very helpful in reducing feelings of isolation and stigma associated with depression and other mental health disorders.
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment: Depression can co-occur with substance use or other mental health disorders. When this happens, a dual-diagnosis treatment approach is taken, where both conditions are treated at the same time. This ensures that each aspect of your health is addressed in an integrative way, which is important when treating co-occurring disorders, as it leads to better outcomes than treating one without the other.
By using these various therapies, outpatient and residential treatment for depression offers comprehensive support, guiding you toward recovery. Untreated depression can make day-to-day life incredibly difficult, but there’s no need to suffer. When you get treatment from Woburn, you can learn to manage symptoms of depression and build a life that inspires you.
Addiction and Depression
Living with depression can be overwhelming, and for some, substance use may seem like a way to cope. However, when depression and substance use disorder occur together, they can reinforce each other, making recovery more challenging. Recognizing the connection between these conditions is essential to ensuring individuals receive the right care.
Both depression and substance use disorder can lead to:
- Withdrawing from social activities or hobbies
- Denying the severity of the problem
- Strained personal relationships
- Self-isolation
While using drugs or alcohol may provide temporary relief, it often worsens depression and leads to additional challenges, including financial strain and personal hardships. An addiction treatment program at our Massachusetts center that also addresses mental health can provide the support needed to break the cycle of co occurring depression and substance use, helping individuals regain stability and improve their overall well-being.
Get The Help You Deserve In The Boston Area Today
At Woburn Addiction Treatment, we are experienced in treating a wide range of behavioral health issues, including depression, substance use, and other disorders. We recognize the interconnected nature of behavioral and mental health, and our approach is to provide a unified and comprehensive care plan that addresses all aspects of a patient’s well-being.
Trying to find treatment can feel overwhelming, and it’s important to find a treatment center that feels right for you. At Woburn Addiction Treatment, we are committed to transparency, quality care, and your personal journey toward health and happiness.
We are here to answer any questions you might have and to help you make informed decisions about your care. In the Boston area and beyond, Woburn Addiction Treatment stands as a beacon of hope for those in need. If you or a loved one are seeking help for depression or other mental health or substance use disorders, contact us today. Your path to recovery can start here, and we are honored to be a part of that journey.
