Depression Treatment In Deerfield Beach, FL

Discover the depression treatment options offered at FHE Health, and how we work with people to set them on the road to lasting recovery from their symptoms.

Depression, better known as major depressive disorder, is a common but serious medical illness. It affects the way you act, think and feel. Major depressive disorder alone affects more than 21 million people in the U.S., but there are various types of depression, including:

If you have a persistent feeling of sadness or feeling down that impacts your daily life, you may have clinical depression. Because there are many types of depression, the first step is to talk to your doctor to get an appropriate diagnosis and a treatment plan for depression. If you’re looking for more intensive depression treatment near you, you may be recommended to inpatient treatment like FHE Health in Florida.

Understanding the Types of Depression and Its Causes

Every 40 seconds, a person is lost to suicide. This is a scary statistic, but it shows why finding the right diagnosis to help with depression symptoms is so important. The different kinds of depression may be treated in alternative ways. The first step is to get the correct diagnosis so that a medical team or doctor has the information needed to set up a depression treatment plan.

Depression is caused by many different factors that need to be considered, such as:

These are all different factors that can play a role in the risk of developing and the development of depression. If you have suffered from abuse, have dealt with substance abuse or have any of these factors in your life, you may have a predisposition to depression that needs to be addressed.

Common Treatment Approaches for Depression

We combine counseling, medical integration and lifestyle changes to offer a holistic approach to treating depression.

Counseling

Counseling, also known as talk therapy, can help with all types of depression. In counseling sessions, you’ll work with a counselor, psychiatrist or psychologist. You may learn new coping strategies, talk through issues you’re dealing with or work through behavior therapies, like dialectical behavior therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy.

Medical Integration

Before starting on any kind of medication, it’s important to have a full medical workup and to look for any underlying causes of the symptoms of depression. For example, lethargy or exhaustion could be linked to low levels of nutrients in the body from a vitamin deficiency or a lack of oxygen reaching the parts of the body due to anemia.

If the cause of depression in your case is linked to the use of a medication or to a chronic illness, getting your depression under control may rely on controlling the illness or switching medications. Once the reason for the symptoms is discovered, the staff at FHE Health can talk to you more about your options for integrating medications and medical treatments into your treatment plan for depression.

In some cases, treating an underlying condition is all that is needed to relieve the symptoms of depression and to get you back to feeling like yourself again. In either case, our treatment center for depression in Florida can help you to understand the causes, work through the symptoms, and establish a plan to deal with your depression going forward.

Medication Options for Depression

When depression is not linked to an illness or factors that can be controlled easily, you may need to take specific medications designed to treat it. Depression is often treated with medications prescribed by a medical professional, and there are many different kinds. Often, these are given in combination with one another to address different symptoms.

No two people with depression are alike, so it is possible that you may need to try several medications before you find the right one, or a combination that works well for you. There are several groups of medications for depression. They include:

Tricyclic Antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants work by targeting brain chemicals in order to ease the symptoms of depression. These drugs are among the earliest medications for treating depression, so they are not as widely prescribed as newer medications that may be as or more effective and with fewer side effects.

Tricyclic antidepressants specifically affect the brain’s neurotransmitters, altering how communication occurs between the brain’s nerve cells to achieve symptom relief. While doctors still prescribe these drugs, the unpleasant side effects of these medications (drowsiness, dizziness, urine retention, etc.) often mean they are not a first go-to in treating depression.

Antipsychotics

Some people experience what is referred to as “treatment-resistant depression,” meaning their depressive symptoms do not find relief from multiple mainline antidepressants. In these cases, a doctor may prescribe an antipsychotic drug instead.

Generally, doctors prescribe antipsychotics to treat conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Sometimes, though, doctors will prescribe antipsychotics for severe depression as an “add-on” medication to complement other antidepressant drugs. These drugs work by altering certain brain chemicals that block high levels of dopamine, which are thought to be involved in the onset of psychotic feelings. Some antipsychotics also affect mood and symptoms like extreme agitation, anxiety, and feelings of depression.

Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

Frequently, doctors prescribe selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to patients experiencing depression or anxiety, as well as nerve pain. SNRIs work by targeting neurotransmitters in order to more effectively regulate mood. Some people experience side effects like nausea or dry mouth when taking these drugs, but often these effects subside and vanish in time.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are among the most frequently prescribed drugs for treating depression today. SSRIs combat the symptoms of depression by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter. A boost in serotonin may improve communication between neurotransmitters and, in turn, alleviate the symptoms of depression in many cases. SSRIs are largely very effective for treating depression and offer fewer side effects. The most commonly prescribed SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram, and paroxetine.

Atypical Antidepressants

Atypical antidepressants are drugs that don’t quite fit into the other categories of drugs that treat depression. They are similar to other antidepressants in that they, too, change the brain’s chemistry to achieve a specific outcome: mood improvement. Atypical antidepressants are designed to change the levels of one or more of the brain’s neurotransmitters, such as serotonin or dopamine. Some of these drugs can cause side effects such as dizziness and dry mouth. Some of the most widely prescribed atypical antidepressants include bupropion and trazodone.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

As the first type of antidepressants developed to treat depression, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) have mainly been replaced by newer classes of antidepressants like SSRIs. Although MAOIs are effective for treating depression, they tend to cause more serious side effects, such as increased blood pressure. These drugs also target neurotransmission in order to alleviate symptoms of depression. They are sometimes prescribed to treat other conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.

Not all of these medications work for every patient. For example, a patient with psychotic depression or bipolar disorder may benefit from taking antipsychotics and antidepressants together. On the other hand, someone struggling with depression and anxiety may benefit from using SSRIs, SNRIs or antidepressants. At FHE Health, we offer an in-depth psychiatric assessment that enables our medical team to determine the most suitable medications for you and discuss these options with you.

What Are Natural Options for Depression Treatment?

After hearing the benefits and downsides of using medications for depression, you might opt not to use them. If you do not want to or cannot take medications, or are looking for a way to boost your health to treat depression, you may want to consider lifestyle changes. Even small changes to your lifestyle can help fight depression:

These seemingly small changes help boost the production of serotonin, can improve your self-image and sense of well-being through mindfulness and give you more confidence.

Can Depression Be Cured?

Over 21 million adults had been through at least a single major depressive episode as of 2021. Depression cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be treated. The illness can go into remission, and you can feel like yourself again with the appropriate treatment plan.

Living With Depression Disorder

According to Science Direct, depression has a high risk of recurrence, with 50% or more patients reporting more than a single major depressive episode in their lifetimes. As a chronic condition, you need to learn to live with depression, to seek treatment when necessary and to build up a strong support system. Our depression treatment center in Deerfield Beach, Florida can equip you with the tools you need to combat your symptoms and regain your happiness.

Some great ways to manage depression include:

Call FHE Health for the Best Treatment for Depression in Florida

At FHE Health, we focus on treating mental health conditions as well as substance abuse and addiction patients. We know how hard it can be to overcome these challenges and are always here to help, whether you need counseling or admission to our treatment center in Deerfield Beach, Florida for depression. Our compassionate team is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to take your call.

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Depression Treatment in Florida