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Depression

What is depression?

Depression is a type of mood disorder in which you feel constant or extreme sadness that might not go away if left untreated. You could be prone to depression because of your genetics or a traumatic or painful life experience. Treatment with the Karma Doctors & Associates team can help you feel better and enjoy life to its fullest.

What are the symptoms of depression?

Common symptoms associated with depression include:

  • Sadness
  • Hopelessness
  • Tearfulness
  • Emptiness
  • Frustration
  • Irritability
  • Angry outbursts
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Loss of interest in favorite activities
  • Fatigue
  • Physical aches and pains
  • Reduced appetite
  • Weight gain or weight loss
  • Anxiety
  • Guilt or shame
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Thoughts of suicide

Seeking treatment at the first sign of depression is helpful, as this mental health condition can sometimes cause symptoms that feel crippling.

What are the risk factors for depression?

Depression is common and can affect anyone, but the following factors may increase your risk of experiencing it:

  • Family history of depression
  • Hormone fluctuations
  • Certain personality traits
  • Anxiety or other mental health disorders
  • Some medications
  • Low self-esteem
  • Ongoing stress
  • Being gay, bisexual, lesbian, or transgender
  • Drug or alcohol misuse
  • Having a chronic illness or disease
  • Traumatic life events

You may experience situational depression because of a divorce, death in the family, job loss, military combat, or physical abuse.

How does my provider diagnose depression?

The Karma Doctors & Associates team diagnoses depression after reviewing your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle habits. They check your vital signs, complete a physical exam, and ask a series of questions about your mood, thoughts, and behavior patterns. You might undergo a blood or saliva test during pharmacogenetics testing to determine which medications you may respond best to for depression treatment.

How is depression treated?

Your Karma Doctors & Associates provider offers the following treatments for depression:

Lifestyle changes

Meditation, other stress-reduction strategies, getting regular exercise and plenty of sleep, eating nutritious foods, and maintaining a healthy body weight can improve depression naturally — having a strong social support network in place helps, too.

Dietary supplements

Taking dietary supplements may reduce the underlying cause of depression or help treat it naturally.

Medication management

Taking certain medications can reduce feelings of depression or help you through a difficult life situation.

Counseling

Karma Doctors & Associates offers individual, family, and couples counseling to help you cope with the underlying cause of depression and improve your mood.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

TMS uses electromagnetic energy to stimulate nerve cells in your brain and improve your mood. You may be a candidate for TMS if other depression treatments haven’t worked.