“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
- William James, Psychologist
Depression Therapy
Enjoy life again with therapy for depression.
Finding Hope in the Darkness
Michael’s Story
Michael had been feeling down for weeks. His family life, friendships and career were all suffering as a result of his depression. He knew he needed to do something, but he was apprehensive about seeking therapy. He wasn't sure if it would be uncomfortable or if it would even help him.
Still, he took the plunge and went to his first therapy session. Even the small act of getting out of bed and going to the appointment felt like a monumental effort. He was surprised to find that the therapist put him at ease with his kindness and understanding.
Michael slowly opened up about his struggles, and was surprised to find how good it felt to share his feelings. He felt heard and accepted by the therapist, allowing him to start to feel more comfortable.
Over the course of his therapy sessions, Michael began to feel lighter and more hopeful. He started to gain perspective on his life and the choices he was making, and he was able to start making healthier decisions. He began to take better care of his mental and physical health, allowing him to begin to feel more like himself again.
With the help of therapy, Michael was able to confront his depression head on, and start to make real progress in regaining control of his life. He was relieved and happy that he had taken the initiative to seek help, and felt blessed to have found a therapist that he connected with. He was grateful for the journey he had been on, and was filled with a newfound hope for the future.
Understanding Depression: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options
Feeling overwhelmed and sad can be more than just a bad mood; it may be depression. Learn what causes depression, the symptoms to look out for, and the available treatment options.
Depression is a mental health disorder that affects tens of millions of people across the world. It’s often characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, loneliness, or worthlessness that can last for weeks or months. Understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatments can help you manage depression if you’re struggling with it or support a loved one who is.
What is Depression?
Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by prolonged periods of sadness, loneliness, or cognitive difficulty that affects daily functioning. It can manifest in a variety of ways, including changes in behavior and mood, fatigue, appetite changes, sleep disturbances, physical aches and pains, and low self-esteem. Severe cases of depression can even lead to suicidal thoughts.
Causes of Depression.
Depression can be caused by a variety of factors, including biological, environmental and psychological influences. Biological factors include genetics, imbalance of neurotransmitters and hormones, medical conditions and side effects of medication. Environmental influences can include trauma or stress from major life changes, chronic illness or psychological abuse. Psychological influences that may cause depression include low self-esteem, pessimism and negative thinking patterns.
Symptoms of Depression.
The symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but they often include feelings of worthlessness, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, decreased ability to concentrate, suicidal thoughts or behaviors and intense sadness. Depression can also manifest in physical symptoms such as headache, back pain and stomachaches. It is important to seek help if you experience any of these symptoms for an extended period of time.
Diagnosing and Treating Depression.
An accurate diagnosis is key to getting effective treatment. A medical doctor, therapist or mental health professional can diagnose depression based on physical exams and interviews. To be diagnosed with depression, an individual must have at least five of the symptoms of depression present over a two-week period. Treatment options include prescription medications, talk therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), lifestyle changes, exercise, support groups and complementary alternative treatments such as yoga or meditation. It's important to find the right treatment plan that works for an individual as every person's experience is unique and different treatments work better for some than others.
Coping With Depression Long-Term.
Although there is no cure for depression, it can be managed and treated over time. This involves an ongoing commitment to self-care, such as eating well, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep and practicing relaxation techniques. Other strategies to manage long-term depression include setting reasonable goals for yourself on a daily basis, reframing negative thinking into positive ones and developing strong interpersonal relationships with family and friends who can provide emotional support. Additionally, individuals should not hesitate to seek professional help from their doctor or mental health provider if their symptoms become severe or change in any way.
Take This Free Depression Test To Find Out If You Need Help
Identify if you may be suffering from depression with this free, easy-to-use test. Answer the questions to get an accurate assessment and guidance.
Are you feeling overwhelmed or down more often than not? If so, you could be dealing with depression. Take this free, easy-to-use depression test to evaluate your symptoms and see if treatment may help. Answer the questions truthfully for an accurate assessment and personal guidance.
Assess your feelings and behavior.
This depression test evaluates your feelings and behavior to discover if you may have symptoms associated with depression. The questionnaire includes questions about recent mood swings, energy levels, motivation, and overall wellbeing. By evaluating how you’ve been feeling and behaving over time, this test can provide an accurate assessment of whether or not professional help is needed.
Identify any changes in mood or behavior.
To successfully determine whether or not you may be suffering from depression, it’s important to consider your moods and behaviors recently. Pay special attention to any changes in how you feel on a day-to-day basis. Have you been feeling less energetic lately, or more irritable than usual? Are there activities that used to bring you joy that now seem unenjoyable? Take note of any changes in your thoughts, sleep patterns, daily routines, and even diet. All of these are potential indicators of depression and should be considered when taking the depression test.
Determine the severity of depression.
Once you complete the depression test, you’ll be presented with your results which will include a score reflecting the severity of your depression. This score can help you determine whether or not you need more thorough assessment from a mental health professional, and can provide guidance for what treatment options may best suit your needs. Knowing where on the spectrum of depression symptoms has the power to inform lifestyle changes that may help alleviate these symptoms.
Track progress and review test results with health professionals.
Taking this free depression test can provide you with valuable insights and help you assess your current mental health status. Be sure to track your progress over time, and share any concerns with your doctor or therapist if the results indicate that you may have depression. This way, they can support you and provide informed advice on how to cope with your symptoms.
Free Depression Test
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Take the depression test here. When you are finished return to this page to interpret your score. The test is not monitored and no email address or identifying information will be collected.
Having trouble viewing the test on your screen? Here’s a mobile friendly version: Depression Test.
Interpretation of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Score
Total Score ….. Depression Severity
1-4 ..... Minimal depression5-9 ..... Mild depression10-14 ... Moderate depression15-19 ... Moderately severe depression20-27 ... Severe depression
These results are not meant to be diagnostic. You should meet with a healthcare professional if you want diagnosis and/or to access therapy or medications. Sharing these results with a therapist you trust can be a great place to start.
Important Information: This test is not monitored and no email address or identifying information was collected. If you believe that you may be at risk of harming yourself or otherwise need immediate support you should seek help immediately. Help is always available at the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Important Information: If you believe that you may be at risk of harming yourself or otherwise need immediate support help is always available. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provide free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. You can reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or using the chat box at 988lifeline.org. You can also text “MHA” to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line. Lifeline Chat and Text is available 24/7 across the U.S. and certain territories. Learn more.
References
NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness: Depression: https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression. Retrieved 1/26/2023.
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16:606-13.
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL. The PHQ-9: a new depression diagnostic and severity measure. Psychiatr Ann. 2002;32:509-21.
PHQ9 Copyright © Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. PRIME-MD® is a trademark of Pfizer Inc.