Where to get help for depression?

Depression is a common and serious illness. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are vital to successful outcomes for those with depression. Although there are multiple forms of depression, each with a different presentation of particular symptoms, some symptoms are common across types of depression. These can include:

• Loss of interest in once enjoyed activities
• Sleep issues like insomnia or hypersomnia
• Irritability or frustration
• Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt, and sadness
• Fatigue, lack of energy
• Difficulty with daily tasks due to fatigue
• Anxiety or tension
• Slow thinking and movements
• Difficulty thinking, making decisions, and with memory
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Physical pain without

If you have been experiencing any suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The symptoms of depression can be a result of an underlying condition, which with treatment may improve. For this reason, starting with a medical examination may be ideal to rule out any medical issue. For example, sleep apnea may result in fatigue, and fatigue can contribute to a lack of energy and motivation. Treating sleep apnea, in this case, may relieve a lot of the symptoms. However, there isn’t always an underlying medical condition requiring treatment.

Talking with your doctor about your symptoms can also help you determine your diagnosis of depression and get a recommendation for medication. For some people, treating depression includes medication, and for others, it may only include therapy. For others, medication and therapy are both used. Your doctor may provide you with a referral for therapy in your area.

Locally, there may be community mental health centers, group practices where several counselors work and provide therapy or private practices. Some agencies and mental health centers provide no or low-cost counseling to those in need. Churches and community mental health centers may be the best option for reduced-cost counseling. Start with a quick Google search or reaching out to your doctor’s office for recommendations. You may also talk with a friend you trust or who you know has received therapy before for a recommendation in your local area.

Counseling is also available online, through specific online providers, or may even be offered online by therapists in your local area. Online counseling often is more flexible for you, allowing you to attend appointments from any location by video, phone, or text. This cuts down on the need for a commute, babysitters, and other things that can get in the way of appointments.