Can you tell the difference between feeling blue for a few days, enduring a spell where you feel fatigued and listless, and experiencing clinical depression? The term “depression” is used frequently these days, but it’s important to understand that depression is an illness with signs, symptoms, and health effects.
Then, you can confidently seek evaluation and care — and your provider can determine which treatment plan is appropriate for you. Fortunately, you have options.
At One Health Medical Care in Reston, Virginia, you’re in the best of hands with Mingliarti Tjahjana, MD, and Kendra Lee Blythe, NP. Our expert team has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating depression — we provide compassionate, customized treatment plans, and we’re never in a rush. You are heard here, and no question goes unanswered.
When you consult with our team about a possible depression diagnosis, we conduct an in-depth conversation with you to learn as much as possible about your symptoms and their severity. Depression may look like:
This list is extensive, and no one person experiences depression in the same way. You may notice many of these symptoms, or just a few.
Many patients ask about the origins of depression. That’s very subjective too. Some people are able to pinpoint just when their depression started, while others can’t remember a time when it wasn’t present.
A traumatic event can trigger depression, but there’s a genetic component to it as well, and you’re at higher risk if a parent or sibling experiences depression. You’re also at higher risk if you’re in a phase of life where great hormonal shifts are happening, such as adolescence or following childbirth — new moms are at risk for postpartum depression.
World events, like the COVID-19 pandemic, can spark depression as well. In 2020, for example, life as most of us knew it ended, and we dealt with isolation, fear, and other traumatic factors.
Unfortunately, about 18 million Americans, or roughly 10% of the adult population, cope with depression. Statistics have soared for teens as well: Adolescent rates of depression nearly doubled in the period between 2009 and 2019.
The prevalence of depression is reason enough to seek treatment. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned here, it’s time to seek help, and One Health Medical Care is where you’ll find understanding and evidence-based care that can be transformative.
Depression is complex, and as we noted, every patient’s symptoms and experiences vary greatly. This is why you need our provider team in your corner, since we don’t see you as a set of symptoms. We understand that there are many pieces to your life, and that you want to live more functionally and thrive.
Seek medical treatment for depression if you’re experiencing a combination of the symptoms listed above, because there’s no doubt about it — these symptoms interfere with your daily life. Depression can truly stop you in your tracks and deeply affect your quality of life.
When you visit us, we discuss lifestyle changes with you, which can be quite successful, especially when combined with prescription medications, in easing depression symptoms. Some of these include:
In terms of pharmaceutical therapy, we can answer your questions on all types of depression medication — there are many — and are well-versed in helping patients find the medication that matches their needs. For many people, medication is a vital component of care that helps ease depression symptoms and restore normal function.
You deserve to be treated for your depression, and One Health Medical Care is here to help. Contact our Reston, Virginia, office by calling 571-572-9198 today, or booking an appointment with us online at your convenience.
