Depression Treatment/TherapyNew York, NY
People who struggle with depression experience much more than feeling a bit blue. Depression can have a multitude of effects on one's lifestyle to the point that people with depression struggle to go through the basic motions. Depression can also fuel other conditions and substance abuse. Thus, it is important to seek professional treatment in order to gain the necessary tools and knowledge for coping with depression.
Identifying the Symptoms
Depression is a type of mood disorder that can lead to constant sadness and feelings of disinterest. Unlike being sad once in a while, depression can take control of someone's life and increase a sadness and lack of interest that the person will remain home and do nothing. Symptoms of depression that people need to keep an eye out for include:
- Feeling sad, empty or hopeless
- Lack of interest or pleasure in normal activities
- Experiencing outbursts of anger or frustration over small matters
- Difficulty sleeping that can include sleeping too much or developing insomnia
- Anxiety or agitation
- Unexplained headaches or back pain
- A decrease in appetite or an increase in certain foods
- Focusing on past failures and self-blame
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating
- Regular suicidal thoughts
Given that each patient is unique, someone with depression may not experience all of these symptoms. While these symptoms may seem to have a small impact on one’s life when starting out, they will only get worse without treatment. In fact, many of the symptoms can have a negative effect on an individual’s social life, work, schooling, relationships and physical health.
Depending on the patient’s age and environmental factors, the patient may experience certain symptoms in different ways. Some patients will not even realize they have depression and have no idea as to why they are sad. Fortunately, our treatment can help.
Treatment Options
If you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts or might attempt suicide, seek immediate professional help. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-237-8255 to talk to someone before seeking treatment. If you are already seeing a professional or Eileen Wachter, MD, then call me and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Above all else, you do not have to go through this treatment alone.
Since there is no one-size-fits-all depression treatment, I will customize it to the patient’s needs. With multiple types of depression that can vary in symptoms and severity, a patient will need a unique treatment to his or her needs. Depression can develop from other mental health disorders or from a change in seasons, which people may not even realize is the cause. Treatment can include psychotherapy that involves:
- Identify and work past negative behaviors, beliefs
- Develop positive behaviors and beliefs
- Find healthy ways to cope with depression
- Developing problem-solving methods for issues
- Identify and avoid negative behaviors
- Gaining control in one’s life to ease hopelessness and anger
- Setting realistic life goals and working toward them
- Learning to accept distress and work past it with healthy behavior
Along with psychotherapy, medication is also a possibility. While medications can help to treat depression, they alone will not be as helpful. Medication can help to regulate a patient’s levels of depression and symptoms, but will not give them the methods to move past the depression. In fact, antidepressants can change one’s attitude in other ways than intended.
At Eileen Wachter, MD, I will combine these methods when it is necessary. This is in order to help the patient learn healthy behaviors to overcome depression. I also do not recommend suddenly stopping consumption of a certain medication without first consulting me. While antidepressants are not immediately addictive, they can cause other physical or withdrawal symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes
By seeking treatment for depression, you can begin the path to a healthier and more comfortable lifestyle. Too many people live with the looming shadow of depression that seems to hinder their quality of life. Instead of fighting depression alone, seek treatment with me to get professional help with the fight.
By learning to cope with depression and developing methods for more positive behaviors, I can help you to overcome depression symptoms during the day. In some cases, the amount of medication a patient takes can decrease with enough time, therapy and treatment.
What is important is that you take the first steps toward treatment by scheduling an appointment. If you or a loved one is in need of depression treatment, do not hesitate to call me. I can set up an appointment to conduct an evaluation. With this information, I can customize the treatment to your needs and you can begin the path toward healing.
Contact Me
Eileen Wachter, MD is located at
157 East 86th Street #470
New York, NY
10028.