Depression is a mood disorder characterized by intense feelings of sadness, worthlessness, low motivation, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and a loss of interest in activities that once gave a person pleasure. If you, a loved one, or a client is struggling with depression, please contact our team to learn more about how we can help.
Depression is characterized by intense feelings of sadness, worthlessness, low motivation, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and anhedonia which is a loss of interest in activities that once gave a person pleasure. In more severe cases, individuals with depression can also struggle with suicidal thoughts, recurrent thoughts of death and self-harm behaviors.
Depression can lead to isolation from loved ones, difficulty getting up and dressed each day, overeating and weight gain, crying spells for seemingly no reason and heightened irritability. Depression can also manifest in physiological ways with individuals complaining of frequent headaches and stomachaches.
While a major depressive disorder can present as a standalone diagnosis, there are other variations that can also look similar. These include postpartum depression, which occurs after the birth of a child, seasonal depression which changes with the weather, and bipolar depression, which can occur after a manic episode. Not everyone who is depressed experiences these symptoms.
Signature characteristics of depression include negative thought patterns and feelings of self-blame which leads to individuals feeling as though others aren’t interested in them, are negatively judging them, or are “better off without them.”
Depression can arise from a variety of different factors including trauma, major life transitions, experiencing loss, or purely organic origins, including family history. For adolescents and young adults with depression, it can impact almost every aspect of life including social interaction, school and family connection.
Depression is categorized into mild, moderate, and severe, depending on how many symptoms a client may experience and how much it impairs their day-to-day functioning. Depression can be situational or chronic and recurrent. The severity, frequency and duration of symptoms may vary depending on the individual as well as on their age and gender.
The good news is, depression, even in the most severe cases, can be treated, and recovery is possible! The earlier that treatment starts, the more effective it is. Since mood disorders vary from person to person, an intensive, integrated, holistic, and comprehensive evaluation and treatment plan is important to successful treatment.
AT THE DORM, OUR INTEGRATED APPROACH TO TREATING YOUNG ADULTS WITH DEPRESSION INCLUDES:
We provide psychoeducation at both the group, individual, and family levels for any client struggling with depression. We find that education helps to support, validate and empower clients and their families.
People struggling with depression can often isolate themselves from others, struggle in social situations, or have low self-esteem. At The Dorm, we recognize the healing power of being part of a supportive community but are also empathetic to the challenges that this may pose for individuals diagnosed with depression. That’s why we provide social skills training at both the individual and group levels. Social skills therapists work to engage in a strong alliance with the client and provide clients with support as they challenge themselves to engage in daily community socialization initiatives and groups at The Dorm Clubhouse.
We provide individual and group CBT and DBT. These therapies focus on helping individuals who are diagnosed with depression to modify negative thoughts, behaviors and emotional responses. Individuals will learn to communicate in words instead of behaviors, to develop emotional regulation skills enabling them to tolerate previously negative feelings, to learn adaptive functioning (to better navigate life’s varying demands and shifting environments), and to have an enhanced understanding of themselves and their motivations leading to more adaptive and healthy life choices.
Depending on need, we offer family and parent therapy for young adult clients diagnosed with depression. Familial-based psychological counseling helps family members process the emotional impact of having a loved one diagnosed with depression and the ways that they can help support them. Education is provided around the benefits and risks of medication, symptoms and the meaning of symptoms and how to communicate and lay effective and loving boundaries.
Individuals who are diagnosed with depression may struggle with maintaining basic activities of daily living (ADL’s). Cooking, cleaning, a healthy sleep/wake cycle, medication compliance, personal hygiene and budgeting are often compromised. At The Dorm, we provide comprehensive individual and group-based life skills training both in the home and at the Clubhouse.
We strongly believe in the power of alternative and holistic approaches in treatment. Yoga, meditation, mindfulness and various forms of exercise are offered at both the individual and group levels. These holistic treatments are shown to help with symptom management and stress relief in individuals diagnosed with depression and other mood disorders.
Medication often plays a key role in the treatment of depression. The Dorm will also work closely with outside treating psychiatrists to help ensure medication is being utilized effectively and optimally.
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(877) 996-2326
Speak with one of our expert clinicians: (877) 996-2326
Call Us: (877) 996-2326
