Depression Treatment in North Carolina

What is Depression?
A Provider’s Perspective
Who Can Treat Depression
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
Risk Factors for Depression
Who Is Depression Therapy For?
Treatment Options for Depression
Related Conditions
FAQs

What is Depression?

Depression is a mood disorder that may range from mild to severe. Its symptoms affect how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities. Its physical component is a chemical imbalance in the brain whereby a patient cannot regulate their mood, but its root may also include genetic vulnerability and stressful life events.

Similar to other mood disorders we treat at Apogee Behavioral Medicine, like anxiety, there are different types that are differentiated by the severity of the symptoms and associated life circumstances. These include major depression, persistent depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and depression with symptoms of psychosis like manic depression.

Treating Depression: A Provider’s Perspective

“Depression is a condition that affects many lives. Anyone can suffer from depressive episodes during their life. These episodes can be recurring or prolonged, and affect not just the patient, but their friends and family as well. It’s important, when treating depression, to recognize the importance of a balanced approach that includes prevention, active treatment and maintenance.” – Dennis M. Klein, D.O.

Who Can Treat Depression

Depression can be treated by a Physician, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, Psychologist, and other mental health professionals. Specialized treatment with therapy, medications, and/or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) may require a coordinated team effort. Apogee Behavioral Medicine has same-day appointments available. If you or someone you love is suffering from depression, please contact us today.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Signs and symptoms of depression can be emotional and physical. Emotional symptoms include a persistent sad or empty mood, pessimism, restlessness, guilt, worthlessness, loss of interest in hobbies, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death. Physical symptoms can include fatigue, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, oversleeping or difficulty sleeping, changes in weight and appetite, and persistent physical pain. The degree to which a patient experiences these symptoms helps inform their providers of the appropriate treatment plan.

Everyone experiences their own form of depression and not everyone has all the benchmarks or what might be considered “typical” symptoms. Symptoms of depression can interfere severely with day-to-day life and changes in mood have consequences that compound the depression such as failed relationships and professional failures.

Risk Factors for Depression

When you are suffering or a loved one is suffering from depression or has suffered from depression, it is natural to look for answers from the environment to genetics, to past or present trauma experiences. Below are a few commonly recognized risk factors underlying depression.

Genetics: There are genetic markers for depression that run in families.
Brain Chemistry: The way your brain processes chemicals, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine can contribute to depression.
Environmental: Those who suffer from major or minor trauma including abuse, neglect, and violence are at higher risk of suffering from depression.

Who Is Depression Therapy For?

Those who experience symptoms of depression lasting longer than two weeks, should seek help. It is a serious mental illness and it will not go away on its own.

Our providers all practice using standardized, evidence-based treatments to meet all your wellness needs.

Our staff is well-equipped to support you along all aspects of your care.

We put you in the driver’s seat by offering ease of access to your team

Treatment Options for Depression

Treatment options for depression vary widely and include medication management, behavioral therapy, electroconvulsive shock therapy (ECT), mindfulness, and most recently Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Most of the medical interventions for treating depression involve prescribing medication that alters the brain chemistry to help regulate a patient’s mood. These are effective and often used with behavioral therapies and diet, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations.

Depression has not always been treated as a serious mental illness and often, in history, research and innovation on the treatment of depression has taken a backseat to other mental illness conditions, however, we have many recent breakthroughs in treatments. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a relatively recent breakthrough that is now FDA-approved for ages 15 and up for the treatment of depression. Learn more about TMS for treating depression or contact us to learn more.

Same Day Appointments Available

Apogee Behavioral Medicine offers same-day appointments and Telepsychiatry. We are available when you need us most. It is difficult to predict when a symptom of ADHD presents itself in a novel way. We are here to demystify these feelings and symptoms and provide support and relief.

Find a Provider

Find a Provider for Depression

Find an ABM provider near you and schedule an appointment today!

Change Location:

Sander Scott - a LCSW, LCAS in Greenboro, NC

Sander Scott, LCSW, LCAS

Counseling & Therapy,
Pediatric Therapy / Counseling,
Telehealth

Locations

Greensboro

445 Dolley Madison Road, Suite 100
Greensboro, NC, 27410

Guiding You on Your Path to Wellness

What is Depression?

Treating Depression: A Provider’s Perspective

Who Can Treat Depression

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Risk Factors for Depression

Who Is Depression Therapy For?

Treatment Options for Depression

Related Conditions

Same Day Appointments Available

Find a Provider for Depression

Sander Scott, LCSW, LCAS

Greensboro

LCSW, LCAS

Greensboro, NC

Sander Scott

Megan Trawick, PA-C

Greensboro

PA-C

Greensboro, NC

Megan Trawick

Byeolah Henson, PA-C

Raleigh

PA-C

Raleigh, NC

Byeolah Henson

Daniela Marques, PA-C

Durham

PA-C

Durham, NC

Daniela Marques

Derek Ayers, DO

Hickory

DO

Hickory, NC

Derek Ayers

Ami Silva, LCMHC

Hickory

LCMHC

Hickory, NC

Ami Silva

Traci Whitworth, LCSW, LCAS

Winston Salem

Greensboro

LCSW, LCAS

Greensboro, NC

Traci Whitworth

Megan Jones, PMHNP-BC

Hickory

PMHNP-BC

Hickory, NC

Megan Jones

Renee Heagney, LCMHC, NCC, BC-DMT

Winston Salem

LCMHC, NCC, BC-DMT

Winston Salem, NC

Renee Heagney

Taylor Ellis, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Greensboro

MSN, PMHNP-BC

Greensboro, NC

Taylor Ellis

Miranda Harris, MD

Greensboro

Hickory

MD

Hickory, NC

Miranda Harris

Lane Thompson, PMHNP

Hickory

PMHNP

Hickory, NC

Lane Thompson

Kendra Frazier Samuelson, PMHNP

Asheville

PMHNP

Asheville, NC

Kendra Frazier Samuelson

Morgan Stenger, PA-C

Depression Treatment in
North Carolina