When You Should Seek Medical Help for Depression

Using a term like “prison” may seem a little extreme when discussing depression, but most people struggling with this mood disorder can relate. 

Depression can not only shrink your world into a seemingly dark and hopeless place, it can destroy any motivation you might have for improvement. Just ask the 21 million adults in the United States who have major depressive disorder (MDD).

If our team here at Point of View Mental Health in Scottsdale, Arizona, accomplishes anything with this blog, we hope it’s to underscore the importance of seeking help for your depression. 

With Thomas Pearson, PA-C, at the helm, we’ve helped scores of patients dealing with depression to break free and find happiness again, and we’re confident we can do the same for you (or your loved one).

Early intervention is key

We want to get right to the title of this blog to address when you should seek our help for your depression. Our answer is — as soon as you start to feel symptoms.

Think of depression as you would any disease or injury — the sooner you get treated, the better. Leaving any illness or disease untreated allows room for complications, as well as your condition turning chronic, which is certainly true of MDD.

So, the moment your depression starts taking over your life, and it becomes a daily struggle to improve your mood, we suggest you come to see us so we can break the depressive cycle in your brain’s chemistry.

Signs of moderate to severe depression

Summing up the symptoms of depression into a tidy chart or list is nearly impossible as no two people follow the same path when they have MDD. That said, there are some warning flags to highlight, such as:

• Missing work and school
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Experiencing hallucinations or delusions
• Intense and persistent melancholia
• Changes in sleep or appetite
• Physical side effects, such as headaches and joint pain
• Suicidal thoughts or tendencies

This last item on our list is quite serious — more than two-thirds of the annual suicides in the US can be traced back to depression.

When depression leads to substance use

Another big red flag when it comes to depression is drinking more or taking drugs to self-medicate your depression. The two-way street between depression and substance use disorders is a well-traveled one. Between 27-40% of people with MDD develop a substance use issue.

So, if you’re using drugs or alcohol to numb your depressive symptoms, it’s time to seek a better, and healthier, solution.

There is help and hope

If you’re tired of dealing with oppressive depression, you’re in the right place. If you take reading this blog one step further and schedule a consultation with us, we assure you we leave no stone unturned when it comes to helping you find happiness again. 

Typically, we’ve found a combination of therapies works well in relieving depression and might include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Antidepressants
• Lifestyle changes
• Support groups

So, don’t delay getting help for your depression. To get started, call our office at 520-999-9114 or connect with us online today. We also offer telemedicine services throughout the state of Arizona.