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Depression Treatment in Fort Lauderdale
Feeling sad is perfectly normal. However, constant feelings of sadness cause you to lose interest in everything, and everyone around you is not. Clinical depression often makes it difficult to eat, sleep, care for yourself, or take care of all other basic yet essential tasks. Sadly, many people who suffer from clinical depression aren’t receiving the treatment they need.
When depression is diagnosed, understood, and successfully managed, the need to self-treat in potentially harmful ways is eliminated. Our addiction treatment programs in Fort Lauderdale can help you overcome addiction and mental illness.
What is Depression?
Depression is a common but serious mood disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities. Depression can also cause physical symptoms such as changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, and fatigue.
While feeling sad or down is a normal part of life, depression is more than just a temporary feeling of unhappiness. It is a complex condition that can impact a person’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Many factors can contribute to the development of depression, including genetics, brain chemistry, environmental and other factors too, and life events.
One of the most challenging aspects of depression is that it can be difficult to recognize and diagnose. People with depression may not always show obvious signs or seek help because they may feel embarrassed or ashamed about their condition. However, it is essential to understand that depression is not a sign of weakness or a personal flaw; it is a legitimate medical illness that requires proper treatment.
Some common symptoms of depression include persistent feelings of sadness and emptiness, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, changes in appetite and even weight loss, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, lack of energy or fatigue, difficulty concentrating and making decisions, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and thoughts about death or suicide.
There are several types of depression with varying levels of severity. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common form and involves experiencing severe depressive symptoms for at least two weeks. Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) lasts for two years or longer and includes milder but long-term symptoms. Other types include seasonal affective disorder (SAD), postpartum depression (PPD), bipolar disorder, and psychotic depression.
Thankfully there are several effective treatments available for depression. In some cases, a combination approach may be necessary. It is essential for anyone experiencing symptoms of depression to seek professional mental health treatment in Fort Lauderdale.
Risk Factors for Depression
Depression affects 6.7 percent of the adult population in the United States. Often attributed to a combination of social, biological, and psychological sources, depression can have many underlying causes. Common risk factors for depression include:
- Insufficient social support or none at all
- Financial hardship
- Other mental health disorders (anxiety, mood disorders, bipolar disorder, etc.)
- Family history of health issues
- Chronic, long-term health issues
- Significant life changes (divorce, death of a loved one, relocation)
- Substance use disorders (drug or alcohol addiction)
Gender is also considered a risk factor for depression. Although 20 to 25 percent of adults will experience at least one depressive episode in their lives, clinical depression is twice as likely to occur in women as it is in men. Gender-related hormonal changes caused by pregnancy, peri-menopause, menopause, childbirth, and menstruation can be a catalyst for postpartum depression.
Age is additionally considered a risk factor. As people grow older and experience changes in their memory, cognition, and physical abilities, losses in their independence and overall sense of autonomy can cause depression as well. However, heredity ranks top among all other risk factors. People whose children, siblings, or parents suffer from clinical depression have a very high likelihood of developing this disorder as well.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
Clinical depression is often misunderstood. Depression is not a mood disorder but simply a prolonged period of sadness. Sadness typically has an identifiable cause and it usually abates within a relatively short period. Conversely, people who suffer from clinical depression don’t always know why they feel sad. Moreover, their sadness doesn’t go away even after several days, weeks, or even months have passed.
Common warning signs of depression include:
- Feelings of hopelessness and despair
- Mental and physical fatigue
- Lack of interest in self-care
- Dramatic decreases or increases in appetite
- Mood swings
- Low self-esteem
- Lack of pleasure in normally enjoyable activities
In men, depression can often cause frustration and aggression. Given that men are less likely than women to talk about how they feel, some men lash out when their depression becomes overwhelming.
For both men and women, prolonged bouts of untreated depression can also result in suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviors. People may contemplate suicide as a means of relieving their pain when they are feeling hopeless and unable to find effective coping tools on their own.
How is Depression Diagnosed?
People may be diagnosed with clinical depression after they’ve experienced at least five of the most common symptoms of this disorder for a minimum of two weeks. One of their symptoms must include either a loss of interest in people and activities or a continuously depressed mood throughout this time. Other symptoms that mental health professionals look for are:
- Noticeably reduced physical movement
- Slowed cognition
- Daily fatigue
- Inappropriate and excessive guilt
- Marked weight changes
- Daily indecisiveness
- Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
- Persistent feelings of worthlessness
Diagnosed depressive disorder is distinguished from common sadness or short-term depression in that it prevents people from functioning normally both socially and professionally.
Treatment for Depression in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Severe depression must also be treated at its source. This can include efforts to achieve hormonal balance and balanced brain chemistry and to identify and resolve nutritional deficiencies. When past or present traumas, unresolved guilt or grief, and feelings of low self-worth lie at the heart of depression, these issues must be addressed as well.
Located in sunny South Florida, Fort Lauderdale offers a variety of treatment options for those struggling with depression.
Our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in South Florida allows individuals to receive intensive therapy and support while still being able to live at home or in a sober living environment. IOP typically involves group therapy sessions and individual counseling sessions multiple times a week for several hours each day. This structure provides individuals with the flexibility to continue working or attending school while receiving treatment for their depression.
For those who require more structured care but do not need round-the-clock supervision, an Outpatient program may be a suitable option. Similar to IOP, outpatient treatment involves attending therapy several times per week but typically for fewer hours per day. It allows individuals to return home after each session and continue managing their daily responsibilities while receiving support and guidance from professionals.
For individuals who require more comprehensive care than what an IOP or outpatient program can offer, a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) may be the best fit. PHP provides daily structured treatment for up to six hours per day but does not require clients to stay overnight at the facility. This type of program is ideal for those who need significant support but still want to maintain some level of independence.
Many people struggling with depression also have underlying substance abuse issues or other mental health disorders. In these cases, dual diagnosis treatment is necessary as it addresses both conditions simultaneously. Our dual diagnosis treatment program in Fort Lauderdale provides integrated care that focuses on treating both mental health disorders and substance abuse disorders to promote long-term recovery.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is another effective treatment option for depression. MAT combines the use of medication with therapy to effectively manage symptoms of depression. The medications used in MAT help to regulate brain chemistry, allowing individuals to better cope with their symptoms while participating in therapy.
Depression Therapy
Psychotherapy and psychoeducation are invaluable tools in depression treatment. Depression counseling teaches people how to consciously change their thinking and behaviors to alleviate or prevent stress and to produce more desirable outcomes overall. Psychotherapy is also used in anxiety treatment, which is closely related to depression treatment.
Addiction therapy in Florida is a crucial component of depression treatment. Therapy can take many forms, including individual counseling, group therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). These forms of therapy help individuals identify negative thought patterns and behaviors and develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage their depression.
Designed to help clients identify and replace negative thought patterns, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) encourages positive, proactive problem-solving. With CBT, our clients learn how to identify the underlying causes of their depression and tackle them at their source.
CBT promotes the application of strategies like diligent self-care, stress management, and financial sustainability to combat feelings of hopelessness. Activities like mindfulness meditation, journaling, and cognitive restructuring make it easier for people to live in the present moment, take action to solve the problems they can solve, and accept the challenges that do not have identifiable solutions.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a modified form of CBT. With DBT, a depression therapist helps clients learn to identify and accept negative and unhealthy thinking patterns. By validating these behaviors, DBT makes it easier for clients to change them.
DBT often involves acknowledging the trauma, negative conditioning, or other hurtful events that led to self-harming behaviors and defeatist thinking. DBT leverages mindfulness exercises and seeks to improve clients’ tolerance to stress and their ability to communicate their needs and feelings to others. DBT provides the same outcomes as CBT but places a greater focus on affirming the emotions and past experiences of the depression therapist and the individual.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a popular and effective tool for treating clinical depression. This is especially true in instances in which clinical depression co-occurs with alcohol addiction or substance use disorder. EMDR therapy aims to address the post-traumatic stress caused by hurtful, harmful past events by helping clients fully process what they’ve experienced.
This program uses bilateral stimulation or two forms of simultaneous stimulation to make the processing of traumatic events both less stressful and less painful. EDMR dims the intensity of traumatic experiences while they are being actively discussed and remembered during therapy. This way, these same events are far less likely to cause overwhelming distress in the future. EMDR works well for clients with major depression with risk factors that include unprocessed guilt or grief, childhood trauma, and recent trauma.
Much like EMDR, rapid resolution therapy (RRT) addresses depression by targeting the traumas or sources of trauma that are believed to be its underlying cause. With RRT, people can overcome the long-term or continuous effects that past trauma is having on their lives. RRT leverages hypnosis, imagery, and stories to help people deal with disturbing emotions, negative thought patterns, and self-harming behaviors.
Biofeedback therapy helps clients connect with themselves. It is an excellent tool for those with clinical depression who have a hard time understanding how they feel, recognizing how their environments and thought patterns affect their moods and behaviors, and who need help learning how to listen to themselves.
During biofeedback therapy sessions, similar to transcranial magnetic stimulation, electrical sensors are attached to various parts of a patient’s body. These sensors track things like muscle tension, body temperature, brain waves, respiration, and heart rate.
Over time, patients learn how to control normally involuntary processes to moderate their blood pressure and heart rate, limit muscle tension, and address other physical signs of emotional distress. Biofeedback therapy provides effective tools for proactive, in-the-moment, stress-reduction.
Find Freedom at our Depression Treatment Center in South Florida
At Agape Treatment Center, our programs are always customized to suit the needs of the individual. Although major depression is an incredibly common issue, we recognize that it can look and feel different for every person. On our Broward County campus, we have medical professionals on-site who can devise and implement multi-pronged programs for addressing:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Negative behavioral conditioning
- Chronic physical pain
- Bipolar disorder
We also offer services and support that help our clients establish comfortable, sustainable lives. We provide solid strategies and helpful resources that assist people in achieving financial stability, housing stability, and reliable social support. With our whole-health, whole-person approach, we also stress the importance of good self-care by offering nutritional counseling, fitness counseling, sleep support, and more.
Overcoming depression can be made easier by seeking professional help. Contact us today to find out more about our programs and to speak with an admissions coordinator.
- February 22, 2023
- Updated Date: July 2, 2024
Addiction Recovery Services
Stephanie Robilio is an accomplished Clinical Director at Agape Behavioral Healthcare. With a Master of Social Work degree, LCSW license, and extensive training in Rapid Resolution Therapy under her belt, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Her unique combination of education and experience allows her to provide exceptional care to clients and lead her team with confidence. Stephanie’s joy comes from witnessing the moments when her patients creatively connect the dots and bravely move toward reclaiming their power. Her purpose is to help individuals understand their past so they can create a future full of hope, growth, and success. Stephanie attributes a large portion of her success to the supportive culture and strong sense of community fostered by the Agape team.
