Depression

Depression services offered in Doylestown and King Of Prussia, PA

Depression causes a range of symptoms but don’t let mild sadness fool you. Without treatment from Eileen Peirce, RN-BSN, PMHNP-CRNP, and the team at P.S. Psychiatry, depression won’t improve on its own, and your symptoms can progress, turning into debilitating hopelessness and lethargy that impacts every area of your life. If you need help with depression, call the office in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, or use online booking to request an in-person or telehealth appointment.

Depression Q&A

What causes depression?

Depression is more complex than you may realize and more challenging than a simple bout of the blues. Your depression may begin when brain chemical imbalances fail to regulate your mood. You could inherit a genetic variation that increases your risk of depression.

Many life events can put you into depression. You may face a life transition, such as the loss of your job or separating from your partner. Constant daily stress or an illness can both affect your mood.

Your childhood experiences also factor into depression. For example, childhood trauma significantly influences the risk of developing depression as an adult.

No matter what causes your depression, it’s important to know that depression doesn’t get better on its own. Without treatment, depression can last months or years, get progressively worse, and lead to disastrous consequences like suicide.

What are the symptoms of depression?

Depression may cause several of the following symptoms:

Feeling sad, hopeless, or worthless
Losing interest in activities you enjoy
Losing or gaining weight
Eating more or less than usual
Sleeping too much or struggling with insomnia
Feeling fatigued or drained of energy
Finding it hard to concentrate or make decisions
Having aimless, repetitive, or slow movements
Thinking about death or suicide

You should seek help at P.S. Psychiatry if your depression lasts two weeks or longer.

How is depression treated?

After reviewing your medical history and learning about your symptoms, your P.S. Psychiatry provider creates an individualized treatment plan.

Your provider may prescribe antidepressants for moderate to severe symptoms. Since they must choose from numerous antidepressants, they may recommend genetic testing to learn which one fits your metabolism.

If you have mild symptoms or know the cause of your symptoms, they may begin your treatment with therapy and prescribe medications if your depression doesn’t improve.

The type of therapy that’s best for you depends on whether you can identify the cause of your depression. For example, if your depression started after the death of a loved one, you may need grief counseling. Otherwise, you may need therapy that teaches you ways to change negative thoughts and cope with the challenges that trigger depression.

Lifestyle changes also support your recovery from depression. Your brain needs certain nutrients to stay healthy and produce mood-regulating neurotransmitters. Getting into a regular exercise routine also helps lift your mood.

Call P.S. Psychiatry or use online booking to request an appointment for depression treatment today.