What people think of when talking about depression, major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness. People who struggle with MDD might find it hard to engage in daily activities, experience changes in appetite or sleep patterns, and have difficulty concentrating.

While MDD can disrupt your ability to function, depression treatments can make a big difference in how people feel. Treatment for MDD typically starts with therapy, helping people name, process, and cope with their symptoms. Medication and other treatments like TMS or Spravato® may also be added to a treatment plan for comprehensive support.

The Top Signs of Major Depressive Disorder

While feeling sad or hopeless occasionally is a normal part of life, experiencing prolonged periods of these feelings is not. Having a low mood, issues sleeping, difficulty concentrating, or loss of interest in life for at least two weeks could be an indication of major depressive disorder.

Here are several signs that you might be experiencing major depressive disorder:

• Persistent sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness: Do you feel down most of the time, even without a specific reason? Do you have a hard time finding meaning in life?
• Loss of interest in activities: Do things, activities, and people that used to bring you joy no longer hold the same appeal?
• Changes in appetite: Have you noticed an increase or decrease in your appetite and weight?
• Difficulty sleeping or excessive sleeping: Are you having trouble falling or staying asleep? Or do you find yourself sleeping much more than usual?
• Fatigue or energy loss: Do you constantly feel tired or lack the energy to complete daily tasks, even when you get enough sleep?
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt: Do you have persistent negative thoughts about yourself and your abilities?
• Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things: Are you having trouble focusing on tasks or recalling recent events?
• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors: Do you have thoughts of death or suicide, or have you engaged in self-harming behaviors?

If you are feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out for immediate support by contacting your local emergency services, visiting your local emergency room, or calling/texting the National Crisis Hotline at 988.

What to Do If You Think You Might Have Depression

Maybe you resonated with several of the potential signs of MDD listed above, but you’re not sure what to do next. If you’ve been feeling down for a couple of weeks, it could be time to reach out to a mental health provider, like a therapist, to start processing your feelings and talk through ways to cope with your symptoms. A therapist can also help you think through whether medication would be a good idea to add to your care plan.

It’s also never a bad idea to schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor to rule out any potential physical issues that could be causing depressive symptoms.

It’s important to make sure your entire care team, including your doctor, therapist, and potential psychiatric professional are all aware of every element of your treatment plan to get you the best support possible.

How Is MDD Treated?

Major depressive disorder is typically treated with therapy, and many find relief by also incorporating medication into their care plan. For those who don’t respond well to medication, other treatments like TMS and Spravato® might be added.

Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder

A therapist can help you better understand the underlying causes of your depression, respond to any situational factors, and learn better coping skills for managing your symptoms. Depression therapy often involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people understand the connections between their thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Most therapists take an “eclectic” approach to therapy, pulling from CBT and other modalities like acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) or mindfulness-based therapies, tailoring sessions to the specific needs of each client.

Medication for Major Depressive Disorder

A psychiatric provider can help determine whether medication could be helpful in addition to therapy for depression. Since one factor in depression is the inability to produce and process certain neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine, which boost mood function, a psychiatric professional might prescribe an SSRI or SNRI to target the production and processing of these chemicals.

Alternative Treatments for Major Depressive Disorder

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive treatment option for MDD that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. It is effective in reducing symptoms of depression when other treatments have failed, and typically has very few side effects. TMS involves daily sessions over several weeks, each lasting about 20 minutes.

Spravato® is a medication that the FDA recently approved for the treatment of MDD in adults who have not responded well to other medications. It is a nasal spray containing esketamine, a derivative of ketamine. It works by resetting neural pathways in the brain and upping norepinephrine and serotonin levels. This helps improve mood and reduce depressive symptoms.

Reach Out to Northeast Health Services for Depression Treatment Today

If you or a loved one is struggling with MDD, you are not alone and help is available. We offer assessments, comprehensive planning, and evidence-based depression treatments in Boston, Cambridge, Salem, Springfield, and across Massachusetts to help you find relief from your symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your mental health journey, call 508.794.8711 today to talk with a dedicated intake expert, or schedule your first appointment. For existing clients, find your office location to contact your office directly.