Depression is a difficult and complex challenge that you shouldn’t face alone. When the last thing you feel like doing is talking to anyone, that’s when it’s even more important to connect with a therapist like Dr. Brian C. Hocking, who understands depression and can offer therapeutic interventions that improve your mood. If you struggle with depression, please call the office in Charlottesville, Virginia, or use online booking to schedule a consultation.
Everyone goes through periods of temporary depression, experiencing times when they feel down, then before long, they feel fine again. As a result, common wisdom says to shake it off or get over it. But clinical depression isn’t a minor problem that you can just shrug off.
When your depression persists and affects your ability to work, enjoy social activities, or relish time with your family, you should consider professional support to help you recover.
If you have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, please call Dr. Hocking:
No one knows the exact cause of depression, but current science shows it most likely develops due to one or more factors working together to influence your mood, such as:
If you have a history of anxiety or ADHD, you may be more likely to develop depression. Life events that often trigger depression include losing your job, a divorce, and the death of a friend or family member.
When it goes untreated, depression often leads to severe complications. It affects your physical health, increasing your risk of diabetes and heart disease. It can ruin your relationships, lead to substance abuse, and result in excessive time lost from work.
For some patients, untreated depression places their lives in danger. Depression plays a role in more than half of all suicide attempts, and about one in four people who commit suicide are on antidepressants at the time of their deaths.
Antidepressant medications provide symptom relief by restoring the balance of brain chemicals. They’re typically used together with psychotherapy because combining the two treatments achieves longer-lasting improvement.
Several types of psychotherapy are effective for depression. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and problem-solving therapy are just three therapies proven to treat depression.
Please don’t continue to face depression alone. Call Dr. Hocking or use the online booking tool to schedule a consultation.
