Major depression is a severe mental health disorder marked by a perpetual depressed mood, diminished interest in activities, and impaired daily functioning. Treating depression involves a combination of psychotherapy and medications. Most people are aware of the emotional symptoms of depression, but depression has physical symptoms as well. Many people, including doctors, often miss the connection between physical ailments and depression. Harmony Hills offers a depression treatment program in Florida designed to treat the psychological and physical symptoms of depression. To learn more about how our program can help you overcome depression, reach out to our team at 855.494.0357.
The Physical Symptoms of Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that affects the way you feel, think, and behave. Depression appears to be related to improper functioning in the pathways that connect the areas of the brain that impact emotional processing. Some of these pathways also process information for sensing pain. The main areas involved are the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex. Many experts believe that depression impacts the way pain is perceived.
The effects of depression are different for everyone; however, there are some common physical symptoms, including:
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Muscle and joint pain
- Digestive issues
- Exhaustion and fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Change in appetite or weight
There is a strong link between depression and chronic pain. One cannot be said to cause the other, but they have a very intertwined relationship. Easing chronic pain can lessen depression, and treating depression can relieve chronic pain. It is essential not to ignore your physical symptoms or to assume they will go away on their own. It can be helpful to keep track of your symptoms to help identify patterns.
What Are the Signs of Depression?
Feeling sad, lonely, or down from time to time is a normal reaction to life’s ups and downs. Depression can interfere with your ability to cope with the stresses of day-to-day life, leaving you feeling like just getting through the day is an overwhelming task. The DSM-5 is the manual for assessing and diagnosing mental health disorders. According to the DSM-5, the signs of depression used as the criteria for diagnosis include:
- Depressed mood most of the day, on most days
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, on most days
- Significant decrease or increase in appetite most days, resulting in marked weight loss or gain
- Fatigue or loss of energy on most days
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt on most days
- Indecisiveness or inability to think or concentrate on most days
- Recurring thoughts of death, recurring suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, or a plan for suicide
- Slowing down of thought and reduction of physical movement observable by others
To receive a diagnosis of depression, individuals must be experiencing five or more symptoms within the same two-week period. Symptoms must cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, and other important areas of daily life. Additionally, the symptoms cannot be the result of a substance use disorder or another medical condition.
Contact Harmony Hills for a Depression Treatment Program in Florida
A residential depression treatment program provides a safe, therapeutic environment with 24-hour access to care. Often, individuals with depression also have a substance use disorder. There is a strong link between depression and alcohol addiction. Harmony Hills is a dual diagnosis treatment center where you can receive treatment for co-occurring disorders, improving your chances for successful recovery.
Living with untreated depression causes pain and suffering. The depression treatment program at Harmony Hills offers relief from the symptoms of depression. The insights you gain and the skills you learn in treatment will enable you to manage your depression to no longer interfere with daily life. When you are ready to break the chains of depression, contact Harmony Hills at 855.494.0357. Our team of caring professionals is here to help.
