Depression & Addiction Treatment in Kansas City

While sadness is a normal part of human existence, for some people, these feelings of sadness don’t go away. In addition, it can be hard for some people to determine where the sad feelings are coming from. 

In these situations, feelings of melancholy are not easy to snap out of or control. There can be a spiral of negative thoughts that affect daily life. Individuals can find themselves in a position where they have lost interest in their normal day-to-day activities. They may lack energy in general and have trouble concentrating on tasks that used to be relatively easy. All of which are signs of depression. Depression is a mood disorder that can cause intense constant feelings of sadness and sadness.   

Millions of people in the United States experience depression, but thankfully, depression is a treatable condition. Many people have managed to overcome their depression and get back to lives that fulfill them. Empowered Recovery Center offers treatment for co-occurring depression and substance use disorders in Kansas City, helping patients achieve stability and long-term recovery.

What is Depression?

Depression is characterized as a mood disorder that causes constant feelings of sadness, and loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. Additionally, depression can cause difficulty with remembering, eating, habits, sleeping, and overthinking.

Depression is different from momentary sadness from difficult life situations. It’s normal to feel sad after going through a tough time, such as losing a job or losing a loved one.  However, depression tends to be persistent.  In other words, depression causes persistent feelings of sadness every day for at least two weeks. Also, there are usually other symptoms involved rather than just sadness.

There are several types of depressive disorders, including persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia/PDD), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), postpartum depression, and bipolar disorder with depressive episodes. The most common and most severe form is major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, which is often simply referred to as ‘depression.’ Without proper treatment, depression may worsen or last longer than necessary. More intense cases of depression can lead to negative outcomes such as suicide, self-harm, or a worsening substance use disorder. 

Depression Signs and Symptoms 

Depression has specific symptoms and signs That can range from mild to severe. However, these symptoms can vary depending on the person and type of depression.

Here are some general symptoms of depression:

• Having low energy or fatigue
• Eating too much or not eating enough
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Trouble remembering things
• Persistent headaches
• Stomach aches
• Sexual dysfunction
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Digestive issues

If an individual experiences five or more of these symptoms and a two-week period, they should seek a diagnosis by a mental health professional.

What Causes Depression?

Medical and mental health professionals currently don’t understand the exact causes of depression. However, the medical community recognizes there are many possible factors that can cause depression.

Factors that could play a role in depression include but are not limited to:

•  Mental health conditions
• Exposure to trauma
• Childhood trauma
• Genetic factors
• Lack of social support
• Chemical imbalances

There are triggers that could trigger depressive symptoms as well. Triggers are psychological physical or emotional events or circumstances that can cause depression symptoms. 

 Here are some common triggers that can cause depression symptoms:

•  Medical conditions
• Stopping depression treatment too soon
• Stressful life events
• Loss of a loved one
• Family conflict
• Relationship changes

Can Depression Treatment Help?

Although depression can feel like unbearable sadness all the time, it is a treatable condition. Depression causes a great deal of pain constantly and it can make getting out of bed or even going to work very difficult. It can feel like the depressive episode will never end, however, depression does end for many people and professional treatment can help.

It can be scary to confront deep sadness, and not understand where it’s coming from, but when left unchecked, depression can get worse. Personal relationships with loved ones can be negatively impacted.  Also, the quality of work or school can decline. In severe cases, untrue depression can leave a person feeling like there is no way to escape from constant pain.

Treatment can be very beneficial in helping to ease these symptoms of depression. Research shows that getting treatment from a mental health professional can be quite effective in managing depression.

Depression and addiction treatment at Empowered Recovery Center in Kansas City usually involves looking at the root causes of the depression. A team of therapists, physicians, and support staff can offer comprehensive care.

Types of Treatment for Depression & Addiction

Medication Management

At our co-occurring disorder treatment facility in Kansas City, we offer treatment options like medications to help patients overcome depression. The most common treatments for depression include medication along with different types of therapy. Medication could be the first step in the treatment process as it can help patients manage their symptoms so they can focus on their long term recovery.

Depression medications help to manage the symptoms one may experience with depression.  As a result, a person is able to be more present during the therapy process. Usually, as people learn healthy ways to handle life stress and managing their symptoms, they are slowly weaned off of the medication. 

However, in some cases, an individual may need long-term medication treatment. Depression treatment is different for each person and the length of treatment, type of medication, and therapy modalities that work for one person may be different for another. Our treatment staff in Kansas City specializes in working with people to find the best way to manage their depression using medications. 

Therapy for Depression & Addiction

Therapy is another treatment option that is used to treat depression. There are different forms of therapy that are used to help people overcome depression but individual therapy is has been shown to be particularly beneficial in treating depression. 

With individual therapy, a person will work directly with a therapist to find the reasons behind the depression. In addition, individual therapy can address other personal issues and co-occurring disorders. Different types of therapy may be used during these sessions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma therapy, holistic therapies, and more depending on the patients needs. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT is used to help people identify and rethink negative thoughts they may be experiencing. By rethinking these negative thoughts, an individual sees the world in a more positive way. 

Depression & Addiction Treatment Kansas City 

If you’re dealing with depression it may feel like it will never end. Thankfully, that is not the case. Our co-occurring disorder facility in Kansas City specializes in treating depression and addiction. Our support staff is dedicated to helping you find the best plan that will help you live the life you deserve. Depression doesn’t have to last forever, and you don’t have to deal with it alone.

Contact us to start your treatment Journey.