Depression is a mental health disorder that affects millions of Americans. It’s manageable for some as various ways to treat depression, including medication and therapy, are available. However, for people living with clinical depression, the best option for getting the right kind of help is in a depression treatment program. How can you find a program for depression treatment? Is such a program the right choice for you? What is it like to go to a treatment program for depression? Seeking help for yourself or a loved one can be challenging, but learning more about the process can help reassure and empower you.
What Is Depression and How Is it Treated?
Depression is a kind of mood disorder. Mood disorders are a category of mental health conditions in which a person’s mood does not match what is happening around them. In the case of depression, the person might feel sad or lonely even when good things are happening. Even though depression is relatively common, it is still a serious illness that requires treatment by a mental health care professional.
Many people living with depression find relief from their symptoms by taking one or more psychiatric medications. Since every person is different, it may take time to discover the proper medication or combination of medications that will work best. New medications are consistently getting released, so even if you or your loved one have tried medication with limited success before, there may be new and different medications available now that could help.
Are There Different Kinds of Depression?
Yes, there are many different kinds of depression, and each category has a specific set of symptoms and prognosis associated with them. Some of the common types of depression are:
- Major Depressive Disorder – People living with this condition experience a period of severe, depressed mood lasting two weeks or longer, unrelated to a specific event or incident.
- Persistent Depressive Disorder – Similar to Major Depressive Disorder, people living with this condition will experience a period of depressed mood. However, in Persistent Depressive Disorder, the symptoms last two years or longer.
- Psychotic Depression – People who experience this condition have similar symptoms to other types of depression but also have symptoms of psychosis.
What Can a Treatment Program Do to Help Treat Depression?
In some cases, especially if a person has been very ill with depression, participating in an residential or intensive outpatient treatment program for depression can be helpful. Some ways in which a treatment program can help are:
- Clients who are in crisis can be monitored and kept safe while they are stabilizing.
- Clinicians can make changes to medication quickly and keep a close eye on how the medications are working.
- Clients can receive intensive therapy, both individual and group counseling, to help them begin the healing process and build a support system that will encourage them as they recover.
- Treatment programs can also help if there are co-occurring issues such as substance misuse that need attention.
- Treatment programs can be an excellent gateway to continuing levels of care so that clients can maintain their mental health treatment when they leave the intensive program.
Serenity Grove Offers Treatment for Depression
In Athens, Georgia, clients at our treatment center receive individualized care plans that work for their specific needs. Depression is a serious illness, and our highly trained clinicians have the knowledge and experience to find the treatments that work for each client. If you or someone you care about has been battling depression, reach out to our caring and compassionate staff today at 844.904.3485 and learn how we can help you jump-start the healing process.
