Everything You Need to Know About Choosing Depression Treatment Facilities

Learn more about depression treatment facilities, their benefits, and how to find a program near you here.

Depression Overview

Depression differs from grief or sadness. There are several potential diagnoses for depression symptoms. Understanding depression can help you or a loved one get the help they need to heal. Depression treatment facilities are a great option for getting the help you need.

Questions About Treatment?

Let us guide you through your options and treatment opportunities. Contact Alternative Options today.

What is Depression?

Depression is a serious medical concern. When someone experiences depression, their symptoms persist long-term. Depression impacts all aspects of life. It can harm relationships and physical and emotional health. It can also impact the ability to function each day, leading to problems at home or work. With help from the staff at depression treatment facilities, depression is also treatable.¹

Common Symptoms of Depression

Depression does not affect everyone in the same way. It is important to understand the symptoms of depression. It is also beneficial to know how it differs from other mental health concerns. Common examples of depression symptoms may include:

Feelings of sadness or low mood
Appetite changes
Difficulty sleeping
Feeling guilty or worthless
Problems with concentration, thought, and decision making
Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
Thoughts of self-harm

Symptoms must last at least two weeks to meet the diagnostic criteria for depression. It is also valuable to talk to your medical provider to rule out other medical concerns. Some illnesses may cause similar symptoms.²

Types of Depressive Disorders

Depression is more than a single diagnosis. There are several types of depression. Some common depressive disorders are detailed below.

Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common depression diagnoses. Studies suggest up to 20 million Americans experience major depression each year.³

Persistent Depressive Disorder

The second most common depression diagnosis is persistent depressive disorder (PDD). It is not as severe as major depression. Without treatment at California depression treatment facilities, PDD can be as debilitating. The National Institutes of Health suggest between 2.5% and 3% of U.S. adults experience PDD.⁴

Bipolar Depression

Periods of extreme highs and extreme lows characterize bipolar depression. During periods of bipolar depression, symptoms resemble those of major depressive disorder. Studies estimate up to 4.5% of the U.S. population experiences bipolar depression.⁵

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression involves depression symptoms that affect a woman after giving birth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state it affects one in every seven women.⁶

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that occurs seasonally. It is more common in regions where hours of natural sunlight decrease during the fall and winter.

What is A Depression Treatment Facility For?

Depression treatment facilities help someone living with depression begin to heal. The services provided at depression treatment facilities focus on whole-person care. Getting help to overcome depression is the first step in healing your mind, body, and spirit.

However, there are challenges to recovery, which differ from person to person. A depression treatment facility offers options for treatment with individualized therapy programs.

Why Are Depression Treatment Facilities Necessary?

There are many types of treatment for depression. Regular outpatient sessions with a mental health provider benefit some people. But others may need more help and guidance to get well. Partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs at depression treatment facilities offer intensive therapy. These programs provide a safe and comfortable environment that supports healing.

Severe Symptoms of Depression

Your depression symptoms may differ from those of other people. You may experience certain severe depression symptoms, including:

Auditory or visual hallucinations
Insomnia
Thoughts of hurting yourself or others
Extreme fatigue that limits your ability to care for yourself

Your doctor may recommend the care offered by depression treatment facilities in California. More intensive care also helps when symptoms do not respond to outpatient treatment.

How Do Depression Treatment Facilities Differ from Other Treatment Options?

Depression treatment facilities differ from other treatment types. Treatment for depression also occurs in outpatient programs and hospital settings. Outpatient programs may be effective for some needs. However, outpatient treatment may not provide the same level of varied care. Outpatient therapy is also less intensive than depression treatment facilities.

Depression Treatment Facilities vs. Hospitalization

For someone experiencing severe depression symptoms, a short-term hospital stay may be necessary. In the hospital, stabilization occurs before beginning therapy. Long-term hospital treatment for depression may not be as effective or fine-tuned as services provided in a program specific to depression treatment.

Choosing a program like Alternative Options ensures a wide variety of therapy models. In a depression treatment program, you will take part in a combination of group and individual therapy. Our providers are skilled in several therapy models, including evidence-based and alternative options. Examples include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy
Psychoeducation
Trauma-focused therapies
Art therapy
Experiential therapy Yoga

Co-Occurring Disorder Treatment

Another benefit to services provided at depression treatment facilities is co-occurring disorder treatment. Many who experience major depression also have a substance use disorder. Studies suggest up to 17% of people with major depression also have an alcohol use disorder. The same data shows 18% have a drug use disorder. Programs specific to depression treatment, like Alternative Options, offer co-occurring disorder treatment.⁷

Depression Treatment at Alternative Options

At Alternative Options, we aim to help you take the first steps toward recovery. At our intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient depression treatment centers, our caring and compassionate team members will work with you to develop treatment plans that focus on your specific needs and goals as you enter treatment.

Alternative Options provides a supported and structured environment to help you learn about and understand the concerns that brought you to our program. We offer programs for a variety of conditions, including:

Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety
Substance use disorders
Eating disorders
Co-occurring treatment needs

Contact Alternative Options Today

If you or a loved one need help to take the first steps towards overcoming depression, we are here to help. Members of our admissions team are available to teach you about our programs. The decision to seek treatment is not always easy. We are here to help you or your loved one get the help you need to start over free from the weight of depression.

To learn more about programs at our depression treatment facilities, contact us today.

Resources

1 https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression

2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559078/

3 https://www.dbsalliance.org/education/depression/statistics/

4 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/persistent-depressive-disorder-dysthymic-disorder

5 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/bipolar-disorder

6 https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/

7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2851027/

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