Depression affects 8% of adults, but that number more than doubles in adolescents, many of whom have a hard time getting through the day because of their mental health disorder. Mindy Pearson, PhD, at Advent Family Psychology, treats children, teens, and adults who are struggling with depression. She specializes in personalized psychotherapy that improves your mood and restores balance to your mental and emotional health. If you struggle with depression, call the office in Lehi, Utah, or book an appointment online today.
You may think of depression as simply having the blues, but the two aren’t the same. The blues improve without treatment. But if you don’t get treatment for depression, your symptoms can last months or years.
Depression may start after a major life event or learning you have a medical condition. Some people inherit a genetic tendency that makes them more vulnerable to depression. However, imbalanced neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) can trigger depression for no apparent reason.
Whether or not you can identify an actual event that triggered your depression, the condition persists due to imbalanced brain chemicals.
Mild depression or depressive conditions like seasonal affective disorder may gradually improve without therapy. Most cases of depression only improve if you seek treatment.
If you don’t get help, you’re at risk of entering a downward spiral of worsening depression and dangerous complications like suicide.
Depression brings down your mood and energy levels, leaving you unable or unwilling to engage in life. When you’re depressed, you:
If you have several of these symptoms for two weeks or longer, it’s time to schedule an appointment with Dr. Pearson.
Dr. Pearson completes a psychological assessment, then works with you to create a treatment plan. She has extensive training and experience in many types of psychotherapy (talk therapy) and can recommend the approach that meets your unique challenges and depression triggers.
Several therapeutic techniques effectively improve depression. Dr. Pearson may suggest interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, emotion-focused therapy, or problem-solving therapy, to name a few.
As long as you’re not suicidal or so severely depressed that you can’t engage in talk therapy, psychotherapy can be just as effective as medication.
Therapy does more than give you insight and teach coping skills. Like all types of learning, therapy rewires your brain and improves communication between the nerves.
Don’t wait to seek help for depression. Call Advent Family Psychology or book an appointment online today.