How do I find a treatment center for depression

Mental health problems can make it harder to work, get along with others and take care of yourself. But depression treatment can help you feel better.

Treatment options include psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication. Medication changes chemicals in your brain and can help control your symptoms. Some conditions may need long-term treatment in a hospital or residential program.

Depression

Depression is a very common mental health condition that can cause feelings of sadness and hopelessness. It can also make it hard to focus, sleep and eat. If you are struggling with depression, therapy can help.

Many people with depression benefit from a combination of talk therapy and antidepressant medication. Medication changes the chemicals in your brain to reduce symptoms. It is important to take your medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider.

Talk therapy is called psychotherapy and can be done in a group or one-on-one with a mental health professional, who may be an MD (psychiatrist/doctor), PhD (psychologist), PsyD (psychologist), LMSW (licensed clinical social worker) or NP (nurse practitioner). It’s often covered by insurance, but check your plan’s coverage carefully. Most treatments are 12 to 16 sessions with a trained practitioner. If you prefer, a therapist can offer telehealth appointments.

Anxiety

One of the most common reasons people seek therapy for anxiety is because they haven’t been able to control their symptoms on their own. Many people find relief in cognitive therapies, which focus on addressing the root cause of anxiety and teaching skills to manage symptoms.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most commonly used approach for treating anxiety because it has been well-studied and shown to be effective. CBT teaches patients how to identify their distorted thoughts that trigger anxiety, and focuses on learning to challenge and replace those thoughts with more realistic ones. CBT also includes exposure, which helps reduce fear responses by gradually exposing patients to the situations or stimuli they are afraid of, through imaginal or in-vivo exposure.

Several other types of treatment can help address specific anxiety disorders, such as psychodynamic therapy or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Exercise has been shown to be a great stress reducer, and you may also want to consider adding relaxation techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, guided imagery, yoga, or meditation to your daily routine.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

A mental illness that causes recurring unwanted thoughts or sensations (obsessions) and compulsions, or repetitive actions (compulsions). Obsessions are intrusive, upsetting, irrational ideas that won’t go away. People with OCD are aware that the obsessions don’t make sense, but they feel unable to stop them. Compulsions are ritualistic actions that give a temporary relief from anxiety. These activities might be physical (washing, cleaning) or mental (checking). They usually follow a pattern and specific rules.

People with OCD often get stuck in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions that cause distress and interfere with daily life. They may spend more than an hour a day performing their compulsions or avoiding situations that trigger their obsessions. The symptoms start in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood.

Therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy to help people with OCD. This involves gradually exposing people to situations that trigger their obsessions and helping them reduce their compulsions. They also teach them strategies for managing their anxiety.

Trauma

Trauma is defined as an event or a set of circumstances that an individual perceives as threatening or harmful to their physical or emotional safety, and that can have lasting adverse effects on their psychological, social, occupational, and spiritual functioning. It may be acute, from a single incident or chronic, such as ongoing abuse and neglect.

On a psychological level, trauma can lead to flashbacks, nightmares, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of guilt or shame. On a physical level, it can cause problems such as sleep disorders and physical aches and pains.

Therapists that specialize in trauma can help individuals understand their symptoms and identify the underlying causes of those symptoms. They can use techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and narrative exposure therapy. Using these methods, trauma therapy can help individuals overcome the distressing symptoms and live their lives to the fullest.