From time to time, we all get sad or depressed once in a while. Typically, it’ll go away after a day or two, but for some, it can last for much longer. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a condition that affects people for weeks, months, or even years at a time. It can create symptoms that affect your physical and mental health and lead to isolation, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.
Recovery Ranch PA welcomes anyone struggling with depression and ready to make a positive change. If you or a loved one is struggling with depression, call 717.969.9126 today to see how our depression treatment program can help.
What’s Major Depressive Disorder?
Major depressive disorder is a mental health condition that affects all people, no matter their age, race, or gender. Also known as clinical depression, it can cause a number of emotional and psychological symptoms, ranging from feeling sad and losing interest in your favorite activities to headaches, back pain, and other symptoms.
It’s not something you can simply snap out of. It’s a serious mental health condition that impacts a person’s mood and behaviors. If you have MDD, you’ll experience several symptoms, which include:
- Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Getting angry or irritable over simple things
- Losing interest in favorite activities
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Lack of energy
- Reduced appetite
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Trouble concentrating and making decisions
- Suicidal thoughts and dreams of death or dying
If left untreated, major depressive disorder can last for several months or longer and lead to substance abuse or other disorders. While there’s no cure for depression, there are several treatment options that can teach you how to manage your symptoms and triggers. Treating MDD includes behavioral therapies, like cognitive-behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy, along with holistic therapy and life skills training.
Treating MDD
Treating major depressive disorder is possible through a combination of therapies and medication. Treatment programs include residential and outpatient treatment options along with aftercare and alumni programs to offer support whenever you need it.
Here are just some of the ways of treating MDD.
Behavioral Therapy
Participating in behavioral therapy is one of the best therapeutic techniques available today. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used therapies for treating depression and other types of disorders. It helps therapists better understand a patient’s symptoms and to address the behaviors it creates. Other types of behavioral therapy that can treat MDD include:
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Patients learn how to recognize triggering situations or people and develop healthy coping skills that will reduce depressive symptoms without disrupting their day.
Holistic Therapy
MDD can be very debilitating and affect all aspects of a person’s life. Holistic therapy includes arts and crafts, journaling, dance and music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and other beneficial therapies to give patients an outlet for their symptoms. To build healthy life skills, therapists teach patients about healthy eating, how to find and hold onto a job, how to clean and care for a home, and other necessary life skills.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Depression symptoms can be severe and make keeping up with work, school, or personal responsibilities seem impossible. If this is the case, psychologists may prescribe medication to ease any depressive symptoms.
Suppose depression leads to a substance use disorder (SUD). In that case, doctors provide medication to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and cravings, allowing patients to continue therapy and learn new ways to manage symptoms and triggers.
Enroll in a Depression Treatment Program at Recovery Ranch PA Today
Recovery Ranch PA is a fully accredited mental health treatment center that welcomes anyone who’s struggling with major depressive disorder or other treatable mental health conditions. Our depression treatment program is customizable to your specific symptoms and triggers and will help uncover the underlying cause of the condition.
Take that first step to a better tomorrow by calling 717.969.9126 today or completing our online form to speak with our team about enrolling in our depression treatment program.
