Depression is a disorder that affects nearly 20 million teens and adults in the United States. More than just the blues, depression has various causes, which include genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. To find out what’s behind your depression and get help managing it, call or make an appointment online today with Dr. Ryan Williams at Florence Family Medicine in Florence, South Carolina.
The feelings associated with depression don’t coincide with typical, occasional sadness, where the source of the feeling can be traced. These feelings persist and interfere with your everyday activities.
The most common symptoms include:
Because there are no laboratory tests to diagnose depression, Dr. Ryan Williams uses blood tests to rule out other conditions that contribute to your bad mood.
Some medications and illnesses, including viral infections, thyroid disorders, and significant hormonal changes, cause symptoms similar to depression.
If Dr. Williams finds no other cause for your symptoms, he asks in-depth questions about your feelings, actions, and day-to-day activities, as well as about your family’s psychological history. These questions help Dr. Williams determine the type of depression affecting you.
The most common types of depression include:
Depression is most commonly treated through medication and psychotherapy. Dr. Williams prescribes medications to help relieve your symptoms and recommends you see a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health professional.
Medications for depression typically have side effects that are worth considering, which is why Dr. Williams only prescribes medications you need.
Make sure you see Dr. Williams — a skilled diagnostician — so you can be fully informed and make the best decision about medication for your circumstances.
If you haven’t felt like yourself in a while and think it could be depression, call or make an appointment online today at Florence Family Medicine in Florence, South Carolina.