What You Need To Know About Depression

Occasional feelings of sadness are normal, but if you find yourself experiencing frequent feelings of sadness, you could have depression. You can get help for depression from your psychiatrist. Dr. Germaine Hawkins at Hawkins Psychiatry in Mansfield, TX, provides a wide range of psychiatric and counseling services, including diagnosis and treatment of depression.

What You Need To Know About Depression

Depression is a common problem that can have serious consequences on your mental and physical health. There are several factors which can increase your risk of depression, including:

• Having an imbalance in brain chemicals
• Genetics and family history
• Overall personality, including feelings of low self-esteem, low stress tolerance, and general pessimism
• Environmental issues, including neglect, abuse, poverty, or violence
• You may have depression if you experience:
• Persistent feelings of sadness or depressed mood
• Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed
• Appetite changes, either eating more or less than usual
• Changes in sleep patterns, either sleeping too little or too much
• Lack of energy or increasing fatigue or malaise
• Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt
• Inability to concentrate, focus, or make decisions
• An increase in purposeless activities like pacing or wringing of hands
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the signs and symptoms listed above on a frequent and consistent basis, a psychiatric evaluation is the first step toward feeling better. Our psychiatrist will evaluate you for depression and may order laboratory tests to determine if you have an underlying medical condition that might be contributing to depression.

To treat depression, your psychiatrist may recommend:

• Medication therapy, including anti-depressants to modify brain chemistry
• Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy to help manage and reframe negative thoughts into positive ones
• Group or family therapy to provide support and a feeling of belonging
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for individuals with major depression who are not responding to other treatments

Want To Know More?

To find out more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment of depression, talk with an expert. Call Dr. Germaine Hawkins at Hawkins Psychiatry in Mansfield, TX. You can reach him in the office by calling (817) 460-7080, so call today.