Depression

Depression is more than simply feeling blue now and then. It’s a common mental health concern that can become problematic, debilitating, and even dangerous when not addressed. At Colorado Cares Psychiatry in Denver, Colorado, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Carrie Radding, PMHNP-APN, and her team diagnose depression and offer treatments that can restore your mood, emotions, and quality of life. Schedule an in-person or virtual depression appointment by phone or request one online today. 

What is depression?

Depression is the sadness and loss of hope you may feel because of genetics or distressing life situations. Sadness from time to time is common, but depression is more than that. It can lead to ongoing or extremely sad feelings, even thoughts of suicide. 

At the first sign of debilitating depression, see the Colorado Cares Psychiatry experts for an evaluation. The team cares for children, teenagers, and adults struggling with mental health disorders.  

Which symptoms can depression cause?

Depression can cause the following symptoms:

• Hopelessness
• Feeling worthless
• Severe sadness
• Ongoing sadness
• Anxiety
• Loss of interest in favorite things
• Social isolation
• Thoughts of suicide
• Weight loss or weight gain
• Loss of sex drive
• Substance misuse

Situational depression may subside over time. Seasonal depression often comes and goes, appearing or worsening during the colder months.

What can increase my risk of depression? 

The cause of depression isn’t always clear; however, its risk factors include:

• Loss of a loved one
• Trauma
• Job loss
• Divorce 
• Trauma
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Family history of depression
• Substance misuse
• Medical conditions
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Being a member of the LGTBQ community
• Unhealthy lifestyle habits
• Getting bullied
• Lack of a strong social support network

Adopting healthy habits and having strong support from family and friends can reduce your risk of depression, but you can’t always avoid it or predict when it may affect you.

How does my specialist diagnose depression?

To diagnose depression and determine how to best treat your condition, the Colorado Cares Psychiatry team asks about your symptoms, lifestyle habits, and medical history. They complete a psychiatric evaluation to assess your mood, thoughts, emotions, behavior patterns, and more.

Colorado Cares Psychiatry also offers GeneSight® testing, which uses genetic tests to determine which medications are likely the most appropriate based on your genes.

How is depression treated?

It’s common to have depression with anxiety or other mental health challenges.

Colorado Cares Psychiatry offers an array of treatments for depression, including medication management, psychotherapy, and lifestyle coaching. Your provider offers in-person and telepsychiatry counseling options, including individualized, couples, and family counseling. They teach you behavior-change strategies to overcome troublesome thoughts and behaviors.

It’s also helpful to exercise regularly, see your therapist whenever needed, minimize stress, get plenty of sleep, and eat nutritious foods. The Colorado Cares Psychiatry team follows up with you and monitors your treatment plan to ensure success and a better quality of life.

Schedule an in-person or telepsychiatry appointment at Colorado Cares Psychiatry by phone or book one online today to get treated for depression.