Overwhelming Sadness or Emptiness:
Constantly feeling weighed down by a deep sense of hopelessness or emotional numbness that makes it hard to get through the day.
Depression Treatment in Newport Beach
We all experience sadness and grief from time to time. They are very real and normal emotions and have nothing to deny or feel ashamed of. We are, after all, human. Yet, when those emotions don’t fade and begin to hold a powerful negative influence over our daily lives it’s time to address them.
Living a life filled with possibilities means clearing the obstacles that keep us from being our best. While that is not always easy or possible due to stigma, lack of resources/treatment, etc.
Core Symptoms of Depressive Disorders
Complete Loss of Interest:
Activities that once brought joy or meaning now feel pointless, making it hard to care about anything, even things or people you love.
Debilitating Fatigue:
Exhaustion that lingers despite rest, leaving you feeling drained, with little to no motivation to tackle even the simplest task
Disrupted Sleep and Appetite:
Struggling with restless nights or sleeping far too much, along with significant changes in eating habits, often leading to noticeable weight changes and an overall lack of energy.
What Is Depression?
While anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, depression isn’t far behind. It’s estimated that 15% of the adult population will experience depression at some point in their lifetime.
Depression is a common and serious medical illness that affects how you feel, think, and act. People of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. This mental condition can develop at any time, but on average it usually manifests during someone’s late teen years to their mid-20s.
Women are 6% more likely to have depression more frequently than men. Studies show about one-third of 33% of females will experience major depressive episodes in their lifetime.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines a major depressive episode as symptoms of depression that must last at least two weeks, and represent a significant change in your previous functioning.
Medical conditions like thyroid problems or brain tumors can mimic these same changes, so you must rule out general medical causes before attributing the condition solely to mental health issues. Fortunately, depression and its symptoms are treatable.