Depression is a common but serious mood disorder that can severely impact your daily life. Treating depression often requires peer support, therapy, and in some cases, prescribed medication. If you’re struggling with depression, a depressed mood, or depressive thoughts, don’t hesitate to get help. Clear Behavioral Health offers a range of mental health treatments, including virtual treatment, outpatient and residential treatment, and IOP/PHP treatments for adults and teens. Our expert team of physicians, nurse practitioners, and therapists provides evidence-based practices and experiential therapies to ensure you receive highly individualized depression treatment and long-term healing.
What is Depression? Common Symptoms
Depression (also known as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression) causes severe shifts in moods that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities. There are various symptoms of depression, including:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” moods
- Feeling irritable, restless, guilty, worthless, or helpless
- Fatigue, lack of energy, or feeling slowed down
- Becoming withdrawn, negative, or detached; isolating from family and friends
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
- Inability to meet the responsibilities of work or ignoring other important roles
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping, waking too early in the morning, or oversleeping
- Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs
To be diagnosed with depression, symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. If you experience any of these symptoms, seeking help is important. If your depression goes unnoticed, it can escalate to suicidal thoughts, self-harm, or suicide. Before your depression worsens, recognize the signs, seek help, and take the first steps to overcome this challenging disorder [1].
Less Recognized Types and Symptoms of Depression
Some depression symptoms and types of depressive disorders are more difficult to detect, and in these cases, depression often goes undetected. While these symptoms are less common, they require immediate attention and treatment.
Anger and Irritability in Men
People of all genders can feel depressed; however, men and women may experience their symptoms and coping mechanisms differently. For instance, men are more likely to use substances as an unhealthy coping strategy and become angry or irritable as a result of depression [3]. Men are less likely to be diagnosed with depression because they often struggle to recognize, discuss, and seek help for their emotions, leading to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts [1].
High-Functioning Depression
If you struggle with depressive symptoms while maintaining your day-to-day life, you might be suffering from high-functioning depression. When you have high-functioning depression, you experience the same negative feelings as people with major depression or clinical depression. Yet, the diagnosis is often delayed due to your ability to manage your responsibilities [2].
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
If you experience significant changes in your mood and behavior when the seasons change, you may be going through something called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that is characterized by a recurrent seasonal pattern; symptoms of depression often last four to five months during the winter and recede in the summer.
Depression Symptoms by Age Demographics
Depression is a complex disorder that affects children, adolescents, and older adults differently. Children experiencing depression might be anxious or cranky, refuse to go to school, cling to a parent, or worry that a parent might die. Older children and teens might demonstrate signs of depression by getting into trouble at school, getting easily frustrated‚ feeling restless, or having low self-esteem. Middle-aged adults and older adults might experience depressive episodes, often feel sadness and grief, and experience physical symptoms, such as chronic pain [3].
The Importance of a Professional Depression Diagnosis
Other mental disorders often mimic the signs of depression, so it’s important to receive a psychological evaluation and diagnosis from a mental health professional. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome or long COVID, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, diabetes, hypothyroidism, anemia, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and vitamin D deficiency can trigger depression-like symptoms [3]. It’s important that you seek professional help to receive a proper diagnosis and find the corresponding, appropriate care.
When to Seek Help for Depression
Left untreated, depression can severely impact your daily life, making responsibilities overwhelming and unachievable. If you have lost interest in things that once brought you joy or have been struggling with self-maintenance, work, or relationships, it’s important to seek depression treatment immediately.
While it’s beneficial to seek help at any stage of depression, certain signs indicate that your depression has escalated and requires urgent, professional care. To lower the risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts, seek immediate help if you or a loved one:
- Talks about killing or harming oneself
- Expresses strong feelings of hopelessness or being trapped
- Experiences an unusual preoccupation with death or dying
- Acts recklessly, as if they have a death wish (e.g. speeding through red lights)
- Calls or visits people to say goodbye
- Gets affairs in order (giving away prized possessions, tying up loose ends)
If you or a loved one is considering suicide, reach out for help immediately. Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life [2].
How is Depression Treated at Clear?
At Clear Behavioral Health, we provide a variety of treatment options for depression: virtual treatment, outpatient treatment, residential treatment, and IOP/PHP treatments for adults and teens. Our programs are customized to meet your individual needs and provide comprehensive, evidence-based care for depression and other mental health disorders. Our treatments are available across Los Angeles County and, through our virtual programs, all of California. Our programs are in-network with most commercial insurance providers, and up to all of our services are covered.
Virtual Programs
If you need treatment for depression while balancing the demands of daily life, you might find relief with our virtual intensive outpatient programs (IOP). Our virtual IOP offers a wide range of evidence-based methods, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), somatic experiencing, experiential therapy, mindfulness-based therapy and more. We also offer an evening virtual IOP, which allows you to balance mental health treatment with a full-time work or school schedule.
Virtual Treatment Includes:
- 8-12 weeks of treatment
- 3 days per week
- 3 hours per day
Clear’s virtual programs are available to all California residents, making your path to well-being, as accessible as possible.
Related: Telehealth and Online Group Therapy for Mental Health Treatment
Intensive Outpatient Program and Partial Hospitalization Program (IOP/PHP) for Adults and Teens
If you or a loved one is seeking in-person mental health treatment while living at home, you might benefit from Clear’s PHP and IOP programs. Our IOP and PHP services provide individual talk therapy, group therapy, holistic therapies, and individual and group case management sessions for teens and adults. Our PHP and IOP programs offer evidence-based and highly individualized treatments to help you understand and manage your depressive symptoms.
PHP Includes:
- 2-4 weeks of treatment
- 5 days per week
- 6 Hours per day
IOP Includes:
- 6-8 weeks of treatment
- 3 days a week
- 3 hours per day
Most clients start at the PHP level of care before stepping down to IOP. At Clear, we’re here to help you at every phase of your healing journey.
Related: What is an IOP? PHP & IOP Treatment and How Can It Help Your Family
Residential Programs
Our mental health residential treatment facilities provide all the benefits of our outpatient programs with additional support from our staff. Our residential mental health treatment program is highly recommended for those experiencing a mental health decline, severe depression, or an active crisis. We offer round-the-clock care, personalized treatment plans, structured activities, and access to essential resources including psychiatry, psychotherapy, medication management, and case management to ensure you receive comprehensive care during a challenging time.
Related: How to Know If You Need Inpatient Depression Treatment
Effective Treatments for Depression
While Clear offers an array of treatment modalities–including individual therapy, counseling, and holistic approaches–group therapy and medication management are proven to be particularly helpful for treating depression.
Group Therapy
After joining any one of Clear’s programs, you will have the opportunity to attend group therapy sessions. Group therapy is an effective way to rid the shame around depression and connect with people experiencing the same struggles as you. Connecting with peers in an emotionally safe environment can create a sense of unity and purpose, which helps to combat the isolation and loneliness that is often associated with depression.
Medication Management
To treat depression, therapy is often coupled with medication management. At Clear, an expert team of psychiatrists will diagnose and treat your depression with appropriate medications. Oftentimes, antidepressant medications including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat severe symptoms of depression. SSRIs can help you find psychological balance so that you can participate fully in therapy, daily activities, and your own healing.
Break Free from Depression at Clear
If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, don’t hesitate to get help today. At Clear Behavioral Health, we provide highly individualized treatment plans to heal your depressive symptoms thoroughly. Our clinical team will conduct an in-depth assessment to determine your symptoms before recommending an appropriate level of care. Our goal is to decrease your depressive symptoms, increase your therapeutic skillsets, and help you find balance and joy in your daily life.
Contact us today to learn more about our depression treatment programs including residential mental health treatment for severe depression, outpatient mental health treatment programs, and virtual IOP serving all of California. Don’t wait to get the help you need, the start of your healing journey is only a call or click away.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health (2024, March). Depression. Retrieved from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression.
- Cleveland Clinic (2024, May 17). What is High-Functioning Depression? Signs and Symptoms. Retrieved from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/high-functioning-depression.
- Smith, Melinda, Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal (2024). Depression Signs and Symptoms: Recognizing and Understanding Depression. Retrieved from: https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/depression/depression-symptoms-and-warning-signs.
- Robinson, Lawrence, Jean Regal (2024, June 3). Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment of Seasonal Depression. Retrieved from: https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/depression/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad.
