Depression clouds your mind in a fog that leaves you lost and despairing. At Bright Horizons Psychiatry in North Bethesda, Maryland, Amir Etesam, MD, and his team use medication, and innovative treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and intranasal esketamine spray to help people overcome even the most severe depression. Call Bright Horizons Psychiatry today or schedule an appointment online and begin your journey out of depression.

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What is depression?

Depression is a serious mood disorder that causes overwhelming negative emotions such as sadness, despair, self-loathing, and shame. These feelings are persistent and typically worsen over time, distorting your self-image and making you view everything in its most pessimistic light.

Nothing you do relieves these emotions, and you might blame yourself for them and feel weak or worthless. Other symptoms that depression often causes include:

  • Difficulty focusing
  • Memory problems
  • Appetite changes
  • Altered sleep patterns
  • Persistent fatigue
  • Frequent headaches
  • Weepiness
  • Irritability
  • Odd aches and pains
  • Disinterest in enjoyable activities

If you feel this way, it’s important to know that trying to shake off depression is just as challenging as walking on a broken leg. But with the proper treatment, you can heal your mind and regain good mental health.

Why do I have depression?

Depression doesn’t have one single, easily identifiable cause, in the way a virus causes the flu. Many people develop depression after a significant trauma or notable change in their lives, such as:

  • Chronic stress
  • Loss and grief
  • Relationship problems or breakdown
  • Losing your job
  • Moving to a new home
  • Chronic ill health
  • Severe injuries
  • Bullying
  • Abuse
  • Childbirth
  • Menopause

Depression is also a symptom of other psychiatric disorders, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder, and it often occurs alongside anxiety. Physical diseases like hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels) also cause depression. However, many people develop depression without experiencing one of these triggers.

Research shows that most patients with depression have a neurotransmitter (brain chemical) imbalance. Neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin create links between nerve cells (neurons) in your brain’s mood center. A lack of neurotransmitters stops your brain from functioning correctly.

How is depression treated?

The Bright Horizons Psychiatry team initially offers patients antidepressant medications. Most people start with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication, which boosts neurotransmitter levels. If these don’t work for you, tricyclic antidepressants or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) might.

The Bright Horizons Psychiatry team also offers innovative treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and intranasal esketamine spray that help people with severe, treatment-resistant depression.

The sooner you seek help from Bright Horizons Psychiatry, the easier it is to recover from depression. Call the office or book an appointment online today.