Depression

Depression is a common but highly treatable illness that affects adults and children from all walks of life. At Brighter Life Psychiatry, depression screenings are available to evaluate persistent symptoms like sadness, guilt, and intrusive or suicidal thoughts. Crystal Adkins, MSN, APRN, APN-C, PMHNP-BC, takes a personalized approach to creating a depression treatment plan. Crystal uses a combination of lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and medications to help you feel like yourself again. Call the Coral Springs, Florida, office today to schedule a depression consultation or book an appointment online.

What is depression?

Depression is a common mental illness that negatively affects your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. 

The changes depression causes in your health can reduce your ability to meet responsibilities and properly care for yourself.

Brighter Life Psychiatry specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of depression in adults and children. As a skilled mental health nurse practitioner, Crystal uses the latest therapeutic techniques to ease your symptoms and restore your quality of life.

When should I schedule a depression screening?

Schedule a depression screening at Brighter Life Psychiatry if you or your child experience symptoms of depression that last for two weeks or longer. 

While symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, the condition typically causes persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, guilt, and worthlessness.

You or your child might also experience:

• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Anxiousness
• Low or empty mood
• Intrusive or negative thoughts
• Loss of interest in activities
• Insomnia and other sleep disruptions
• Difficulties making decisions and concentrating on tasks

Physical symptoms linked to depression include digestive upset, headaches, cramps, and pains that have no identifiable cause.

If left untreated, depression can increase your risk for thoughts or actions of self-harm or suicide. If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or someone else, call 988 to speak to someone at the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Crystal can oversee your treatment after discharge from the hospital. She also provides in-office and telepsychiatry depression screenings if you or your child has concerns about unusual symptoms.

How is depression treated?

Brighter Life Psychiatry offers custom treatment plans to manage depression. Crystal may initially recommend lifestyle and diet changes that support your overall wellness, such as getting daily exercise, avoiding caffeine and processed foods, and following a healthy sleep schedule.

Other strategies that can help you manage existing symptoms and prevent depression from worsening include:

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, gives you space to discuss your thoughts and feelings in a safe space. Crystal also gives you tools you can use to stabilize your mood and better cope with the challenges of depression.

Medications

Antidepressants and other medications are available to reduce the severity of depression symptoms. The drugs work directly on your brain to rebalance chemicals that play a role in your mood.

Call Brighter Life Psychiatry today to schedule a depression screening for yourself or your child or book an appointment online.