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ALISON PARSONS
Psy.D.
Depression
Steps to a happier, healthier you.
Feeling down and depressed lately and nothing seems to lift your spirits? It might be time to seek help from an experienced professional. My sessions help patients find relief using evidenced-based strategies to address life’s painful circumstances.
Treatment
Personalized Attention for Your Specific Needs
Depression is very treatable. While treatment is successful for the majority of individuals with depression, only about a third (35.3%) of those suffering from severe depression seek treatment from a mental health professional. Too many people resist treatment because they believe depression isn't serious, that they can treat it themselves, or that it is a personal weakness rather than a serious medical illness. Psychotherapy for depression can help you stop fighting a war against your thoughts and emotions, and empower you to live a happy, meaningful, and fulfilling life. Working with a skilled, experienced therapist is important. Many people notice significant improvement in a matter of weeks or months.
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By applying various evidence-based interventions – including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Behavioral Activation, in addition to Positive Psychology and Mindfulness Techniques, we can work together to tailor a treatment strategy to help you feel better.
About Depression
Depression has been referred to as the “common cold” of mental health disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 16 million adults in the U.S. had at least one major depressive episode in 2012. That’s 6.9% of the population. In any given week, as many as 1 in 10 adults struggle with depression and up to 20% of the general population will contend with depression at some point in their lifetime.
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Depression is caused by the combined effects of social, psychological, genetic, and biological factors. An episode of depression can be triggered by a major life change, a traumatic experience, or a sudden life transition. Sometimes, however, an episode of depression has no obvious cause.
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Sadness and grief are normal human emotions we all experience at various times in our lives, but they usually go away within a few days. Major depression is different. It’s a period of overwhelming sadness that involves a loss of interest in things that used to bring pleasure. Those feelings are usually accompanied by other emotional and physical symptoms. The experience of depression can vary widely from person to person and can include the following common symptoms:
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Sadness or a loss of interest in life
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Increased irritability
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Guilt or feelings of worthlessness
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Sleep disruption
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Appetite changes
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Decrease in energy and fatigue
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Difficulty concentrating
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Thoughts of death or suicide
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POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION
Many new mothers go through something called the baby blues. It’s caused by hormonal changes following childbirth, lack of sleep, and everything that goes along with taking care of a new baby. Symptoms include mood swings, sadness, and fatigue. These feelings usually pass within a week or two. When they drag on longer and escalate, it may be a case of postpartum depression. Additional symptoms include withdrawal, lack of appetite, and a negative train of thought. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), about 10 to 15% of women develop postpartum depression. Untreated, it can be dangerous for both mother and baby.
Ten Things You Might Not Know About Depression
While the definition of major depression may seem simple enough, depression has profound and varying impacts. Here are some surprising facts:
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Depression has different triggers. People have a higher risk of depression if they’ve recently been through a stressful life event, if they’ve had depression in the past, or if a close family member has been depressed. But, sometimes depression develops without any obvious cause.
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Genes provide some (but not all) of the answers. The genetic predisposition to depression is becoming better understood and might explain why one person becomes depressed and another doesn’t. According to Ole Thienhaus, MD, professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona in Tucson, a family history of depression matters, but is not always the only factor. For example, identical twins — siblings who have exactly the same genes — will both develop depression only about 30% of the time, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
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Depression affects the body. Headache, stomach problems, shortness of breath, and general physical tension can all be symptoms of depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
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Depression might be a “gut feeling.” A complicated relationship between the brain, the central nervous system, and the “good” bacteria in the gut could contribute to depression, according to a review of research published in January 2016 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. A varied diet that includes probiotics and prebiotics may play a role in managing depression, the researchers theorize.
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Depressed brains look different. Imaging studies of the brain can show some of the structures and brain circuits work differently when a person is depressed, based on a review of research published in June 2015 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
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Depression is linked to other health problems. People with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis may also have a higher risk of depression.
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Depressed people might not look depressed. “Depression is a hidden illness,” says Jeremy Coplan, MD, professor of psychiatry at SUNY Downstate in New York. Some people can seem upbeat and cheerful, but inside they’re struggling with the symptoms of depression.
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Exercise helps manage depression. “Exercise improves mood state,” Dr. Thienhaus says. He explains that exercise helps stimulate natural compounds in the body that can make you feel better. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days. “We typically recommend that people with depression exercise, develop a healthy diet, and go to bed at a regular time.”
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Medication can help but more than one antidepressant may be needed. Many people with depression don’t get relief from their first or second antidepressant. People who take a second medication without relief are considered to have treatment-resistant depression, Dr. Coplan says. His research, published in May 2014 in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, suggests that for some depressed people, the physiology of their brains means that certain antidepressant medications won’t work to treat depression or must be used in combination with other medications and psychotherapy to achieve and maintain relief.
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Depression is a leading cause of disability. The World Health Organization considers depression to be the leading cause of disability worldwide in terms of total years lost due to disability.