Depression Specialist

What are the symptoms of clinical depression?

While everyone feels sad or “blue” once in awhile, people who suffer from clinical depression are plagued by persistent feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and hopelessness for which there typically is no specific cause. Without ongoing management, clinical depression can interfere with work, school, and personal and social relationships, resulting in worsening symptoms that can lead to self-harm, alcohol or drug abuse, thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts. Unlike passing feelings of sadness that are attributable to specific events, clinical depression occurs because of a chemical imbalance in the brain that interferes with mood regulation. Ongoing medical care is necessary to relieve these feelings and promote better health and wellness.

What symptoms are associated with anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders cause symptoms like extreme nervousness or anxiousness that are out of proportion to the actual issue causing those feelings and out of proportion to an average person's response. Symptoms of anxiety disorders can interfere with a person's normal activities at work, school and elsewhere, and make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships with other people. Some people suffer from generalized anxiety disorders with pervasive and heightened feelings of anxiety and outright fear, while other people have anxiety disorders related to specific events or conditions such as social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety, or agoraphobia. Many people who suffer from anxiety disorders experience debilitating panic attacks that cause rapid heartbeat, hyperventilation, and even fainting. Clinical depression and anxiety often occur together, with each condition exacerbating the symptoms of the other.

How are depression and anxiety diagnosed?

The American Psychiatric Association has established specific criteria to aid in the diagnosis of both clinical depression and anxiety disorders. The criteria can also be used to ensure the most appropriate treatment is provided.

What treatments are available for depression and anxiety?

Both depression and anxiety disorders can be managed with medication aimed at rebalancing and stabilizing brain chemistry, supplementing chemicals that are in unnaturally low supply. Therapy can also be useful in some patients, helping them learn how to manage stress and how to overcome negative thought patterns and behaviors.