Depression is a mental health issue that makes a person feel sad and disinterested. A person having depression can also experience an array of emotional and physical problems. When you suffer from depression, it might become tough to do your daily chores. Moreover, you may face challenges in your personal relationships.
For people going through depression, it may be confusing and scary to seek help. If you feel that you are having depression signs, the first question that comes to mind is whom to visit for help. You may encounter mental healthcare professionals like therapists, psychologists, and counselors. All can aid with depression. But, psychiatrists are the specialists who can recommend medication for treating mental disorders. Read here further to learn about why to see a psychiatrist for depression. But let’s first peek into the signs and symptoms of depression.
Depression Symptoms
When you have depression, you may experience many ongoing symptoms. The following are some examples of those:
- Troubled sleep or sleeping too much
- Feelings of sadness or guilt
- Losing interest in certain activities
- Feelings of fatigue
- Sudden weight gain or reduction
What Are The Major Causes Of Depression?
A myriad of things can lead to depression in an individual. Certain life changes may be the cause of depression in some people, whereas in others, it can be:
- Conflict
- Abuse
- Age
- Certain medications
- Illness
- Substance misuse
- Genetics
- Death or loss
Is There Any Connection Between Chronic Illness And Depression?
Some people may undergo depression because of a chronic illness, too. This kind of illness may remain for a while and generally can’t be fully treated. But, such an illness may often be managed with exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes. Arthritis, HIV, heart ailments, kidney disorders, and diabetes are a few examples of chronic illnesses.
How Depression Is Diagnosed?
There are several tests to diagnose depression. A healthcare expert may perform the following tests:
Physical Test
In a physical test, your doctor may ask questions about your wellness. Some depression cases might also be associated with any underlying physical health condition.
Lab Test
In this test, the doctor may do a blood or thyroid test to ensure it is functioning correctly.
Psychiatric Evaluation
Your mental health expert may ask questions about your thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and symptoms. They may also give a questionnaire to fill out to answer all these questions.
Do Some People Experience Depression By Using Certain Drugs?
Some people who take certain drugs may experience depression. For instance, drugs like benzodiazepines and barbiturates are often associated with depression. These might cause depression in some people, especially the elderly.
Furthermore, drugs like opioids and corticosteroids that help with stomach cramping may sometimes cause mood shifts.
Types of Depression That A Psychiatrist Can Manage
Psychiatrists are experts with a specialty in human behavior. Some have specialized experience and undergo vigorous training in a specific field of psychology. One can visit such a specialist when feeling signs of depression and anxiety.
The signs of depression may differ from individual to individual. A healthcare professional may include one or more specifiers to get clarification on what type of depression it is. A specifier signifies a person is undergoing depression with certain features like:
- Melancholic features
- Psychotic features
- Anxious distress
- Catatonia
- Atypical features
- Mixed features
Also Read: How Do Psychiatrists Diagnose Bipolar Disorder And Its Symptoms?
How A Psychiatrist Can Help In Depression?
Visiting a psychiatrist for depression may have more benefits than any other therapist out there. But, seeing a psychiatrist is important to improving your mental illness and regaining your self-esteem.
A highly qualified psychiatrist is the ideal specialist to assist you in the hardest phases of life. There have been various approaches to psychotherapy that have proved to be helpful for depression. This is particularly true in people undergoing mild to moderate depression. Psychotherapy is an effective treatment option for people with depression. It can help in:
- Pinpointing life events that may raise your depression and help individuals to seek ways to adapt or accept those circumstances.
- Creating achievable goals for the future.
- Augmenting skills to deal with the signs and symptoms. Also, identifying or preventing occurrences of depression in the future.
What Happens During Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy is a very common treatment approach that psychiatrists use for managing depression. It is also referred to as “talk therapy.” In psychotherapy, the patients must attend a session that would be for about 30 to 60 minutes. They need to attend it every week or as often as required.
Some psychiatrists can recommend both medications and psychotherapy to the patients. But, some experts would only handle the medical aspect of depression. Also, they would refer the patient to a therapist or psychologist for routine therapy sessions.
Psychiatrists or mental health specialists may use the following psychotherapy approaches for depression:
- Interpersonal therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Psychoanalysis
- Supportive therapy
What Are The Most Common Approaches To Psychotherapy?
There are many different ways in which a patient can receive psychotherapy. For instance, a patient can have a treatment that involves two or more formats. Here are some of the most common approaches to psychotherapy.
Family Therapy
Family therapy becomes greatly useful when it is important to work on dynamics within the family group. In particular, this approach can be beneficial for small kids and teenagers.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy entails one-on-one interaction between the therapist and the patient. This approach lets the patient have the complete attention of the therapist. But, it doesn’t allow the therapist to monitor the patient within social or family relationships.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy primarily focuses on married couples and those in a committed relationship. Moreover, the main intent of this therapy is to help these couples enhance their functioning.
Group Therapy
In group therapy, many people are involved, nearly around 3 to 15. The therapy lets a person give and take group help in addressing their specific issues. It also allows the therapists to analyze how participants behave in group situations. Compared to individual therapy, group therapy is less costly.
Do Psychiatrists Recommend Medications For Depression Treatment?
Medications can offer tremendous help in alleviating the signs of depression. But, it is still not considered a stand-alone treatment plan. There are psychiatrists who often prescribe medications with cognitive-behavioral therapy. The most common medicine recommended to manage depression is antidepressants. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are other medications that can help.
Conclusion
From interpersonal to supportive therapy, there are several approaches to managing depression. Psychiatric care focuses on treating any mental health issue like depression with psychotherapy. It is one of the finest and most effective treatment options.
If you are seeking a depression psychiatrist in Naperville, end your search with iCare Psychiatry Services. Our qualified psychiatrist, Rubabetu Abimbola, PMHNP-BC, has exceptional field experience. She assists patients suffering from depression and creates treatment plans tailored to their needs.