“Depression is the flaw in love. To be creatures who love, we must be creatures who can despair at what we lose, and depression is the mechanism of that despair.“
– Andrew Solomon, from The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
Sadness is a natural and necessary reaction to change, and loss-it is an indication of who and what matters to us most. But depression is so much more than just “the blues”. It’s a serious health condition that can deprive us of the ability to connect with the people and things that make life worth living.
Depression is a very personal, complex condition and there are as many “types” of depression as there are people who suffer from it. For some, it may visit once in a lifetime and never return. For others, it can be a persistent, life-long struggle that can rob us of even the simplest of life’s pleasures.
Signs that you or a loved one may be suffering from depression may include:
- Feelings of sadness and low mood that persist for a period of two weeks or more. Impairing your ability to function day-to-day
- Anhedonia- the decrease or absence of interest or pleasure from activities you once enjoyed
- Significant and unintended weight loss or gain, and/or significant decrease or increase in appetite
- Changes in sleep patterns-sleeping too little or too much
- Feeling easily agitated, annoyed, or angry
- Persistent fatigue and loss of motivation and energy
- Changes in your ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions
- Thoughts and feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and shame
- Hopelessness-feeling like you will never feel normal again
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide: Feeling that you would be better off dead, or that you are a burden to the people that care about you
Despite what depression may be telling you, there is hope. Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy is a novel and evidence-based treatment effective for all types of depression that can quickly relieve these symptoms. Even if traditional therapies and medications have failed in the past.
Call Thrive today to schedule a free consultation. Our compassionate medical and mental health professionals work collaboratively with each individual to create a personalized treatment plan.
