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Finding a quality depression treatment center in Chicago is a critical topic to understand, as major depressive disorder affects millions of Americans every year. Depressive disorders are the most common psychological disorders in the US, affecting 21 million adults yearly.
Although depression is a term that’s thrown around in the media, it’s not an occasional sad day. Major depression and the other depressive disorders are complex neurological disorders that can devastate every aspect of a person’s life. An alarming number of people suffer significant losses in their lives to depression each year.
The great news is that depression responds well to many diverse types of therapies. Most people experience significant, even life-long remission from the symptoms of depression after mental health treatment.
This post takes a look at identifying the symptoms of depressive disorders and becoming familiar with the most common types of depression, including major depression and bipolar disorder.
We’ll delve into how untreated depression can affect sleep patterns and personal relationships. Further on, we will discuss when you should seek professional help for treating your depressed mood or anxiety disorders.
We will further explore the use of types of treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy and medications for treating depression, as well as emphasizing follow-up care and lifestyle modifications.
Finally, we’ll introduce you to the services offered by NuLife Behavioral Health Depression Treatment Center.
Understanding Depression
Depression belongs to the mood disorder family, also called the depressive disorders group of mental illness. Its effects range from steady, low-level impairments to a person’s life all the way to a catastrophically debilitating inability to function in any way.
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression
The first step to dealing with this mental illness is knowing the symptoms of depression. People with depression may feel persistently sad or empty, lose interest in things they used to enjo, or struggle with sleep and appetite. Other red flags include restlessness, irritability, and brain fog.
The Mayo Clinic has a list of these warning signs.
NuLife Behavioral Health offers evidence based depression treatment for all of these mental health disorders:
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
- Major Depression.
- Bipolar Disorder.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
- Peripartum (Postpartum) Depression.
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
- Psychotic Depression.
Impact on Daily Life
Depression can impair every aspect of daily life. There is no part of a person’s life that remains untouched. It affects how a person sees the world around them, their appetite and sleep habits, their energy levels, interests, and
Other mental health disorders often accompany depression, which increases the degree of disruption to daily life this mental illness causes. For example, anxiety disorder often tags along with depression. For example, when depression and an anxiety disorder occur together, a person might have little energy but still fidget nervously and pace.
How does untreated depression affect sleep?
Depression and sleep are linked closely. Insomnia or hypersomnia (too much sleep) is often the first sign that the freight train called depression is about to hit. The insomnia a person suffering from depression experiences will either be onset insomnia, middle insomnia, or early morning waking. It will also be a condition that is very atypical for the individual.
Naturally, onset insomnia refers to trouble falling asleep; middle insomniacs have trouble staying awake the whole night, but early morning awaking is much different. In early morning waking, a person will leap out of bed far earlier than usual, filled with alertness, even energy.
For a while, an early morning awakener may feel that their depression has been vanquished, but often, within a few weeks to a month, their depression will return—worse than before.
Early morning waking and a drop in the amount of sleep a person needs can herald oncoming depression or a manic phase of bipolar disorder in a person suffering from depression.
At NuLife Behavioral Health, we’ve got comprehensive treatment plans to help you get your sleep cycles back on track.
The effect on personal relationships
Depression isn’t just a solo act; it harms relationships, too. It can make you withdraw from loved ones, feel irritable, and cause misunderstandings.
- Lack of Interest: Depression steals your interest in things you used to enjoy, like hanging out with friends and family. A lack of pleasure in things you used to love is called anhedonia, and it doesn’t involve dropping one beloved activity for a new fun hobby or interest. In anhedonia, a person’s interest in everything declines.
- Irritability. Snappishness and a short fuse are typical of depression.
- Misunderstanding from others: People who don’t understand depression might think you’re intentionally pushing them away, which can strain relationships.
- Zero communication. People with depression often stop communicating with others, which makes misunderstandings worse.
Seeking Help for Depression
If you’re struggling with depression in the Chicago area, NuLife Illinois can help! We offer comprehensive outpatient programs, intensive outpatient programs, and partial hospitalization services to support your journey. Reach out to us at NuLife Illinois for the best mental health treatment in Chicago.
At NuLife Behavioral Health, we understand that depression doesn’t occur in a void, and you have many commitments to fulfill. We offer specialized levels of care that work with your schedule. You can receive the best treatment for depression in Chicago while still meeting all your normal obligations. At NuLife Behavioral Health treatment centers, we’ll meet you where you are.
When Should You Seek Professional Help?
If your low mood persists, disrupts your daily life, or brings thoughts of death to mind, we encourage you to seek out professional help.
- If depression or emotional numbness persists for more than two weeks
- If it’s messing with your work, school, or relationships
- If you’re getting extra irritable or restless
- If you experience a lightening of your mood that swings into the very positive, experience an unusual burst of energy, or you feel so energetic you can’t slow down, contact professional help immediately. These are symptoms of a manic episode.
- If you are having persistent or intrusive thoughts of harming or killing yourself. These thoughts, called suicidal ideation, may range from mildly annoying to all-encompassing.
If you are in crisis and feeling overwhelmed with thoughts of harming yourself and are feeling unsafe, call 988 or visit 988Lifeline.org.
What Services Does NuLife Behavioral Health Offer?
NuLife Behavioral Health offers personalized counseling, individual treatment, group therapy, family programs, intensive outpatient program, partial hospitalization proragm, and patient education to help your recovery from depression.
- Individual therapy: This is a form of talking therapy, where you and your therapist meet one-on-one.
- Family therapy: Everyone with a depressive disorder needs a support system, and family can be one of the best.
- Group Therapy: Through our IOP and PHP programs, patients can work through the challenges of depression in a group setting. This gives you the opportunity to receive professional and peer support.
- Patient Education: We believe knowledge is power. We’ll help you learn more about depression and assist you in building healthy coping skills to aid in your recovery.
We also offer Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), where you can join group therapy sessions and find healing through shared understanding. For further information, please visit our services page.
Treatment Options for Depression
NuLife Behavioral Health Chicago understands that everyone’s situation is different. At our depression treatment center in Chicago, Illinois, we offer a range of treatment options tailored to your specific needs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Treating Depression
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a technique used in individual therapy. CBT and all other forms of behavioral therapy are based on the belief that people have automatic, even reflexive ways of thinking about themselves, events, and everything else in their world.
According to CBT and its close twin, Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy, the ways in which we tend to think affect our emotions and actions profoundly, and by modifying these patterns of thought, we can learn to manage difficulties in life far more effectively.
In our CBT sessions at our centers in Chicago, our therapists will work closely with you to develop coping skills that improve your ability to reduce harmful, habitual ways of thinking about yourself.
Medications used during treatments
Your ability to think and feel, to live comes about from biological circuitry in the nervous system. But these long series of nerve fibers never touch each other. Instead, they rely on neurotransmitters to carry a chemical message from nerve to nerve.
When the brain nerves (neurons) have difficulty in sending or receiving those messages, psychological disorders are the results. Also, if brain tissue starts producing too much or too little of these chemicals, the same outcomes are the result.
Modern antidepressants attempt to help the neurons in one of those three major ways—producing more or turning down the flow of neurotransmitters, helping the nerves send more efficiently, or assisting nerve cells (of which you have 15 quintillion) take in neurotransmitters more effectively.
Antidepressants can be tremendously helpful for people in a depression treatment program. Medications, like SSRIs and SNRIs, help balance your brain chemistry and regulate your mood. Remember to take them under the supervision of healthcare professionals to avoid any unwanted side effects.
A frequently asked question is whether or not depression is only a brain disease, and the answer is—probably not. Depression is most likely not solely a biological problem. There are many factors that must be taken into account when a person is suffering from depression.
Now, let’s talk about choosing the right treatment option for you.
Selecting The Right Treatment Option for You
- Determine the severity: Mild cases might just need some lifestyle changes, while moderate-to-severe ones may require professional intervention. It’s like choosing between a band-aid and a superhero cape.
- Evaluate effectiveness: If one method isn’t working, don’t be afraid to explore other options. Your healthcare provider is there to assist in locating the optimal solution for you.
- Consider personal preference: Some people prefer therapy, while others prefer medication. Finding the right approach that makes you feel secure and in control is key.
No two people are alike, so mental health care must be personalized. What works for someone else may not work for you. At NuLife Behavioral Health, we’re here to provide comprehensive care tailored to your unique needs. We’ve got your back on your journey towards better mental health.
Key Takeaway
At NuLife Behavioral Health in Buffalo Grove IL, we offer a range of treatment options for depression. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps change negative thought patterns, while medications like SSRIs and SNRIs balance brain chemistry. It’s important to choose the right treatment option based on severity, effectiveness, and personal preference because mental health care is not one-size-fits-all.
Maintaining Mental Well-being Post-Treatment
Successfully treating depression is just the beginning of your mental wellness journey. After treatment, it’s essential to monitor your mental health and avoid a relapse. This means staying in touch with your therapist and treatment team.
Why Regular Follow-ups with Therapists Matter
Staying connected with your therapist a is key to maintaining mental well-being post-treatment. Maintaining regular contact with your therapist and the other professionals in your treatment program ensures that any issues you might have are addressed promptly.
Regular follow-up appointments also allow for medication adjustments if needed, ensuring effectiveness without unmanageable side effects. Plus, you can ask questions and voice concerns about your recovery process.
Lifestyle Tweaks for Mental Well-Being
After you’re treated for depression, how can you keep the gains you’ve made and continue improving? Aside from a depression treatment program, lifestyle changes can be a big part of excellent continuing care.
- Eat Healthy: Fuel your brain and body with a balanced diet of fruits, veggies, lean proteins, and whole grains.
- Sleep Well: Stick to a regular sleep schedule to regulate your mood and prevent depressive episodes.
- Get Moving: Exercise releases natural mood boosters, like endorphins, helping you manage stress levels.
- Connect Socially: Engage with loved ones and participate in community activities for emotional support during recovery.
In addition to these practices, learning mindfulness techniques like meditation or yoga can be beneficial. They boost self-awareness, helping you understand your emotions and reduce the risk of slipping back into depression
The road to sustained recovery from depression may seem daunting, perhaps even impossible, but it’s not. Remember, every small step counts. As you learn more about depression, you’ll also gain new skills for overcoming all the symptoms of depression. At NuLife Behavioral Health, we’re here to help you along your path to long-term, lasting mental wellness.
FAQs About Depression Treatments
What are three strategies for coping with depression?
- Three effective strategies include cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and healthy eating.
- More information on these can be found in this comprehensive guide.
What therapy is most successful in treating depression?
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been proven to be highly effective in treating depression.
- Dialectical behavior therapy, experiential therapy, and Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy are also top-quality approaches to treatment for depressive disorders.
The best treatment centers offer a variety of therapeutic approaches in their treatment programs. You can learn more about CBT at the NuLife Behavioral Health website.
Do coping mechanisms work for depression?
- Yes, appropriate coping mechanisms like mindfulness techniques, stress management, and a supportive social network can significantly help manage depressive symptoms.
- Refer to our coping mechanism resource page for further details.
What are the 5 most effective types of therapy?
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
- Problem-Solving Therapy (PST)
Does drug abuse cause depressive disorders?
Most addiction treatment specialists say no—but it’s complicated. Often people suffering from psychological disorders attempt to self-medicate by consuming drugs or excessive alcohol. These chemicals do work directly on brain tissue, and can briefly spark a tiny bit of activity, but this does not last.
Going in the opposite direction, because alcohol and drugs do work on the brain and affect it, they can cause a serious and lasting, even chronic impairment of the way neurotransmitters work.
The combination of substance addiction and a mental health treatment is called dual diagnosis, or co-occurring disorder treatment. We provide this treatment in our Buffalo Grove facility.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we talked about understanding depression and spotting its signs and symptoms. We also explored how untreated mood disorders can derail daily life, causing sleep disturbances, health problems, and relationship difficulties.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, don’t go at it alone. Consider therapy and seek treatment. Reach out to a top-quality depression treatment center, NuLife Behavioral Health in Chicago. It’s the premier depression treatment center in Chicagoland and a trusted mental health provider that can help you find your way back to happiness.
Also, we highlighted some options for treatment of depressive disorders, like individual therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medications.
It’s important to keep your mental well-being in check by staying in touch with your therapist and following the aftercare treatment plan you received upon discharge.
Don’t tough it out alone. Reach out for help. Seeking help for depression is a courageous step towards healing, and there are resources out there to support you on your journey.
Learn More at NuLife Behavioral Health Illinois Today
