When Does Depression Warrant Medical Intervention? Learn to Recognize the Signs

Feeling sad from time to time is normal, but when your sadness interferes with your life, it’s important to find out why. If you’ve had no energy or desire to do things you enjoy for more than two weeks, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your doctor. 

At Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, in Hastings and Grand Island, Nebraska, our providers take a comprehensive and individualized approach to women’s health care. Our team includes specialists who provide mental health counseling for our patients struggling with issues like depression.

Depression is more common in women, but it’s often dismissed as normal. In this month’s blog, we share the signs and symptoms of depression so you know when it’s time to get help.

About depression

Depression is a mental illness that causes a low mood that affects how you think and act. It’s one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States and affects people of all ages and backgrounds.  

Many factors play a role in the development of depression, including genetics, biology, and environment. It’s theorized that women are more susceptible to depression because of hormones, expectations in their personal and professional lives, and higher rates of physical abuse and poverty.

No matter the cause, depression isn’t normal and seeking treatment can help you feel better. 

Signs and symptoms of depression

Knowing the signs and symptoms of depression can help you recognize when you or someone you love needs medical intervention. 

Signs of depression include:

• Feeling hopeless and disconnected
• Struggling to get out of bed
• Sleeping poorly
• Feeling anxious about your mood
• Wishing you weren’t around
• Repeatedly declining social invitations
• Having a tough time concentrating
• Experiencing difficulty making decisions
• Turning to food for comfort
• Feeling angry or irritable 
• Thinking more about death

You don’t need to have every symptom to have depression. But for a depression diagnosis, we look for symptoms that affect most of your day and have lasted for two or more weeks. Even if you don’t meet the criteria for depression but you have a low mood and little energy, you should reach out for help. 

If you or someone you love has any of the above signs and symptoms, it’s time for medical intervention. Depression doesn’t get better on its own — and the sooner you get help, the sooner you can feel better.

Getting help for depression

This mood disorder makes you feel hopeless and helpless, but with the right treatments, you can feel like yourself again. Help for depression may include talk therapy, antidepressant medication, or both. 

Most people experience improvements in their symptoms with therapy. But if symptoms are severe or therapy fails to improve mood, we may prescribe medications. 

Antidepressants ease symptoms, improving your response to therapy. You don’t have to take depression medications forever, but you should never stop antidepressants without medical guidance. 

You can’t snap out of depression. Anyone experiencing a change in mood and energy that makes it difficult to get out of bed, go to work, or spend time with the people they love needs a medical depression evaluation. 

Our team is here to take care of all of your physical, emotional, and mental health needs. We can provide the medical interventions necessary so you can feel better. 

Call us today at the office most convenient to you, or use our online appointment request form to schedule a visit with our licensed mental health counselor.