Feelings of sadness, loneliness, hopelessness, fatigue, and lack of motivation are just a few of the symptoms of depression. Depression affects a person’s emotional, personal, and physical health and can lead to other long-term illness such as diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and more. Depression affects people of every race, gender, and financial status, it has no boundaries. There is hope. At Excel Psychiatry we use the latest evidenced-based care to provide our patients with superior treatment for depression. We listen to our patients and their needs, and we work as a team to ensure our patients receive the most compassionate, empathetic, highest-quality care available.

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What is depression?

Depression is a mental health condition that affects your mood. It can cause severe or ongoing sadness and feel debilitating in many cases. While common, depression may cause serious problems when left untreated. At Excel Psychiatry, we offer convenient virtual telepsychiatry services to treat depression and other mental health disorders.

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What are the symptoms of depression?

Common symptoms you could have with depression include:

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• Tearfulness

• Ongoing sadness

• Extreme sadness

• Hopelessness

• Restlessness 

• Emptiness

• Mood swings

• Irritability

• Loss of interest in favorite activities 

• Appetite changes

• Weight gain or weight loss

• Sleep disturbances

• Fatigue

• Guilt or shame

• Difficulty concentrating 

• Thoughts of suicide

• Physical aches and pains

 

Depression can negatively interfere with interpersonal relationships, social activities, your job, or school. For some people, it leads to substance misuse or self-harm.

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What are the risk factors for depression?

Depression can happen to anyone, but some things increase your chance of developing it. Examples include:

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• Family history of depression

• Hormone changes

• Brain chemistry

• Low self-esteem

• Traumatic life events

• Having other mental health disorders

• Alcohol or drug use

• Serious chronic diseases

• Taking certain medications

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You can’t prevent depression, but there are certain measures you can take to lower the risk of experiencing it. Reduce stressful situations, get regular exercise, spend time outdoors, seek treatment early, and reach out to friends and family for support when you need it.

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How does my doctor diagnose depression?

To figure out if you have depression, our providers discuss your medical history and lifestyle. She assesses your mental health during a psychiatric evaluation by asking you a series of detailed questions before personalizing a treatment that’s best for you.

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What are common treatments for depression?

If you have depression, our providers could suggest one or more of the following treatments:

• Lifestyle changes

  • Things you can do to reduce the risk of depression or its symptoms include eating nutritious foods, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, keeping stress levels low, and not using drugs or alcohol. 

• Medications

  • Taking certain medications can reduce unpleasant symptoms, improve your mood, and maximize your quality of life. 

• Psychotherapy

  • We offer virtual telepsychiatry sessions to talk you through difficult times in your life and teach you ways to cope with mental health challenges