When Does Depression or Anxiety Require Medical Intervention?
Sep 24, 2024
Everyone feels sad at times, a feeling usually traced to a specific event, such as the loss of a loved one. If your sadness deepens and lengthens, though, you may be dealing with depression, anxiety, or both.
If so, you’re not alone. Among American adults, major depression affects more than 21 million (8%), and more than 40 million (19%) have an anxiety disorder.
But how do you (or your loved one) know when it’s time to ask for medical intervention to treat your depression or anxiety?
At Rios Healthcare Associates in Houston, Texas, our caring team specializes in guiding and supporting those struggling with depression and anxiety. Here are a few guidelines we typically follow.
Depression is more than just sadness. Many people who are depressed have no identifiable reason to be sad. They wake up with feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness that persist throughout the day.
If you’re experiencing depression, you often lose interest in activities you once enjoyed or in spending time with friends and family. You’re fatigued, have low energy, and struggle to concentrate on a task.
With depression, you may struggle with changes in your sleep habits, sleeping too much or not enough. You might also be moody and have thoughts of harming yourself, including suicide.
Anxiety has several forms, but in general, symptoms include regular anxious thoughts about even small things, intrusive worries that persist, nervousness, rapid heart rate or heart palpitations, a sense of impending doom, sleep problems, and rapid breathing and trembling.
Some people experience depression and anxiety at the same time.
Some symptoms of depression and anxiety are normal from time to time.
But when these symptoms characterize you for more than a couple of weeks, it’s time to talk to your doctor. That’s especially true if the symptoms affect your relationships, make it hard to sleep, and are present most of the time.
If you’re having suicidal thoughts at any time, you should call your doctor, 911, or 988 (national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
Because a chemical imbalance in the brain causes depression, medication is an effective treatment for many people. Talk therapy is another powerful method for identifying negative thought patterns and root causes and helping you deal with your mental health struggles.
Every patient is different, requiring a different focus and mix of treatments. If you think it’s time to seek help for your depression or anxiety, the Rios Healthcare Associates team can design a customized treatment plan for you.
Call our Houston office at 832-323-9230 or request an appointment online today.