Just about everyone you know has some sort of diet or eating plan that others find “peculiar”: Paleo, vegan, keto, fasting. So, the fact that you’re super conscious about what — and when — you eat is absolutely normal, isn’t it? That depends.
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the US. More than 7% of women and men have at least one episode of major depression per year.
Everyone feels down or blue from time to time — especially after a major life change, such as divorce or death of a loved one. You may not even recognize your depression as a problem at first. But if you have lingering sadness, hopelessness, or other changes that affect your quality of life for more than two weeks, you could have some form of depression.
Our expert counselors at The Soho Center for Mental Health are trained to diagnose and treat all types of depression both at our Greenwich Village offices in New York City, New York, and via secure telemedicine consultations. Below we offer descriptions of the most common forms of depression.
If you think you or a loved one suffers from any type of depression, we encourage you to give us a call and schedule a consultation. If you or they have thoughts of self-harm or suicide, call the suicide prevention lifeline right away at 800-273-8255.
Major depression is the most common type of depression and is characterized by a persistent dark mood, loss of interest in formerly enjoyable activities, and feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness. You may also experience changes in appetite, accompanied by weight loss or gain. If you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide, call the suicide prevention lifeline right away at 800-273-8255.
If you’ve lived under a cloud of joylessness and depression for more than two years, you may have persistent depressive disorder. Your symptoms may vary in severity, but continue without relief.
Psychotic depression is a form of severe depression in which you also have hallucinations, delusions, or false beliefs that are upsetting or negative. You may think that you’re ill, or poor, or a terrible person, none of which is true. You may also hear or see things that aren’t really there.
Women and men with SAD tend to withdraw and feel low or listless during the winter months, when days are short, gray, and gloomy. The sadness and depression lift once the sunny days of spring and summer arrive.
However, you don't have to wait until summer to feel better. Light therapy and other forms of therapy can help you manage SAD symptoms.
If you have bipolar disorder, episodes of depression alternate with moods of exhilaration or euphoria, known as mania. During your manic phases, you may be filled with energy and grandiose plans. Eventually, though, you crash and feel depressed again.
Women are more at risk for depression because of hormonal fluctuations during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Types of depression that affect women alone include:
After giving birth, some women may feel depressed, listless, and disconnected from their loved ones — including their babies. Although postpartum (aka perinatal) depression is common, leaving it untreated puts both mother and baby at risk.
A severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), PMDD is marked by mood changes as well as physical discomfort that starts around the time of your period. If you have PMDD, you may have trouble focusing, experience mood swings or bouts of crying, and have thoughts of suicide.
If you or a loved one has experienced the symptoms of any type of depression for more than two weeks, use our online form, or call our friendly staff to schedule a consultation. You may also opt for teletherapy that’s conducted through confidential and affordable video/phone consultations.
If you have thoughts of self-harm or suicide, call the suicide prevention lifeline right away at 800-273-8255.
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Just about everyone you know has some sort of diet or eating plan that others find “peculiar”: Paleo, vegan, keto, fasting. So, the fact that you’re super conscious about what — and when — you eat is absolutely normal, isn’t it? That depends.
You love your partner, but you’re wondering if you’re going to make it in the long haul. The more time you spend together, the more you seem to clash. Once upon a time, you were on the same page. What happened? How do you get back there?
Dealing with family — during any time or circumstance — can be a challenge. Individual needs sometimes conflict with one another. Communication styles differ. How do you preserve the peace and help your family thrive? Family therapy paves the way.
Your parents, aunts, or uncles drank or did drugs. Now you abuse drugs and alcohol, too. Is substance abuse a learned behavior? Or a condition you inherit? It’s actually a little of both.
The world is messed up. You’re a failure. Everyone’s out for themselves. If you’re caught in a trap of negative thinking like that, you have false beliefs that reduce your enjoyment of life. Cognitive therapy helps switch that around.
Feeling anxious is a normal response to troubling or uncertain times. If your anxiety persists, however, it becomes a trouble, too. Despite what’s happening in the world or in your life, you don't have to feel overwhelmed by fear. You can get help.