Depression Treatment in Midland, TX

Major Depressive Disorder, often referred to as clinical depression, is a serious mood disorder characterized by persistent and severe feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest or pleasure in most activities, often accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms that impact daily life.

Depression is treatable, and there is a range of treatment options from therapy, and medication to healthy lifestyle changes that can help you.

Common Symptoms of Depression

People may generalize depression to be a lingering feeling of sadness, but depression can include many specific symptoms, such as:

Symptoms of depression can manifest differently in each individual, varying in severity and combination. To be diagnosed with a major depressive episode, these symptoms must persist continuously for a minimum of two weeks.

The Different Types of Depression

Postpartum Depression

Many women experience mild depressive symptoms in the first few weeks after delivering a child, but postpartum depression is different than this common syndrome termed “baby blues.” Women with postpartum depression may experience symptoms of extreme sadness, fatigue, and anxiety while pregnant or soon after giving birth.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Previously known as dysthymia, persistent depressive disorder is a mood disorder that lasts for a period of two years or more. During this length of time, individuals with a persistent depressive disorder are likely to experience varying intensities in their symptoms, leading them to battle severe depression at some moments, and mild symptoms at others.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Categorized as a subtype of Major Depressive Disorder with a seasonal pattern. Previously referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), this is a type of depression that occurs seasonally, typically in the fall and winter months, and is thought to be related to reduced exposure to natural light, resulting in symptoms such as low energy, mood disturbances, and increased sleepiness.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) can be conceptualized as a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) characterized by debilitating physical and emotional symptoms that significantly disrupt a person’s daily life and functioning, typically occurring in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

Causes and Risk Factors

There is no one cause of depression, and this mood disorder may arise at any age. Most often, depression is first diagnosed in early adulthood, and may be influenced by the following factors:

• Family history of depression
• Major trauma or personal stress
• Side effects of a medication
• Related medical problems or serious illness

Resources for those with Depression:

• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): DBSA provides support, education, and advocacy for individuals with depression and bipolar disorder.
• Mental Health America (MHA): MHA offers resources and screening tools for depression and other mental health conditions.
  “Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy” by David D. Burns: A self-help book that introduces cognitive-behavioral techniques to manage and overcome depression.
• “The Mindful Way Through Depression” by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal, and Jon Kabat-Zinn: A guide that combines mindfulness and CBT to address and prevent recurrent depression.

Hotlines and Helplines:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) for immediate assistance if you or someone you know is in crisis.
• Crisis Text Line: Text “HELLO” to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor for support.

Telemedicine Treatment

With telemedicine, Pathway Psychiatry is able to provide professional evaluations and recommendations to patients virtually who may not be able to travel to the office for a face-to-face visit, or prefer the convenience of video-visits.

In order to determine what course of treatment is best for an individual, they must personally discuss their symptoms with a mental health specialist.