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Depression

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Depression Treatment in Ontario, Canada

Depression is a mental state of low mood and there are several subtypes of depression, but major depressive disorder is the one that's usually intended. It is expected to be the number one cause of disease burden worldwide by 2030. The term major depressive disorder was first used in the 1970s and the disorder was added to the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders known as the DSM in the 1980s.

Depression can quietly infiltrate every part of your life—dimming your interests, disrupting your emotions, and straining your relationships. Maybe you find yourself crying easily, feeling numb, or getting angry over small things. Perhaps you distance yourself from loved ones, even when you need their support the most. If any of this resonates with you, know that you're not alone. Struggling with depression doesn’t mean something is wrong with you—it simply means you may need support and depression help to start feeling like yourself again.

While some people experience depression after a major life event, like a divorce or the loss of a loved one, others develop symptoms without a clear cause. At Cognizant Psychotherapy, we recognize that depression can stem from a variety of sources—stress, genetics, brain chemistry, medications, or other health issues. Our team is here to guide you with compassionate, personalized therapy for depression tailored to your unique situation, helping you regain control and rediscover hope.

Before you read the page completely we would like to make a short disclaimer to not self-diagnose on the basis of what you read here. If you can relate to most of the signs, we do advise you to go to a qualified medical health professional for proper diagnosis.

Today we have the DSM-5 which lays out 8 criteria on which the diagnosis is based. They include

  • A low mood for most of the day, nearly every day.
  • Persisting anhedonia which means a loss of pleasure or interest in previously enjoyable activities.
  • Significant weight loss or weight gain
  • Insomnia or hypersomnia meaning not sleeping enough or sleeping too much.
  • Fatigue or a loss of energy, nearly every day psychomotor retardation which means a slowing down of thoughts and physical movements that is noticed by others.
  • Inappropriate guilt or feeling worthless
  • A reduction in the ability to concentrate.
  • Recurrent thoughts of death.
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  • You definitely need to consult a qualified professional to get a proper diagnosis of your condition. The symptoms cannot be the result of substance abuse. Major depressive disorder is thought to be caused by multiple factors including genetic and environmental factors. Some studies have suggested that differences in risk between individuals can be accounted for by genetics. There is a high concordance rate of depression in monozygotic twins and overall this means a family history is considered a risk factor. Environmental factors can include stressful life events which also correlates with the severity of the depression.
  • It is also important to note that the presence of other disorders are more likely in patients with depression this includes anxiety and substance misuse especially alcohol. Others can include an association with ADHD, PTSD and the presence of chronic pain.
  • Then there is psychotherapy also called talking therapy, examples of which include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Interpersonal Therapy.
  • Psychotherapy is often the first line of treatment for depression and has been shown to be effective for most people. Depression treatment options include lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and pharmacotherapy, with a combination often yielding the best results. Pharmacological treatments primarily consist of different classes of antidepressants, each serving unique patient needs.