Depression
It can be hard for people to imagine anyone living in Southern California to be depressed. Temecula has access to beaches, wineries, and perfect weather. But major depressive disorder is not a condition that cares if you live by the ocean, it’s not a “shake it off and be grateful” type of condition. Regardless of the beauty surrounding you, when depression hijacks your ability to take care of yourself it can leave you feeling hopeless. At Unity Therapy Services in Temecula, CA we believe that everyone deserves compassionate and effective mental health care that leads you back to hope.
Signs of Major Depressive Disorder
There are major differences between feeling sad and clinical depression. We all have experienced sadness due to life transitions, losing a job, or ending a relationship and it’s not fun by any means – but it is temporary. Major depressive disorder is not – rather it’s similar to a chronic health condition that requires monitoring, support from professionals, and can have devastating consequences if left untreated.
Think about the last month – have you felt any of the following? If so, has it impacted your ability to enjoy time with family and friends, be present at work, maintain your home and hygiene?
Thinking & Memory
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Feeling foggy or forgetful all day (with and without caffeine).
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Losing train of thought often or struggling to find words when in conversation.
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Work or school tasks are turned in late or barely completed.
Mood, Affect, & Thoughts
- Frequent tearfulness or sobbing with no trigger event.
- Deep feeling of despair or dread that persists throughout your routine.
- Thoughts of dying, harming yourself, or ending your life.
- Irritable, annoyed, or feelings of unexplainable rage.
- Flat (or numb) attitude about most things during your day.
- Feeling guilty or ashamed of your inability to find joy or appear happy.
Physical Health
- Body pains in your legs, arms, or neck for no reason.
- Oversleeping (12+ hours, frequent naps after a long night of sleep) or insomnia.
- No desire to eat which leads to weight loss OR overeating with weight gain.
- Your body feels heavy and walking can be slow and labored.
- Stomach pain or gut issues that are not explained by a chronic medical condition.
What Causes Depression?
Depression is now thought to be caused by severe dysfunctions in areas of our brain responsible for cognition, memory, emotions, stress, and decision-making. Depending on which areas of the brain are impacted – determine what type of treatments might work best for you. Genetics and your environment play a role as well.
Unfortunately we don’t have the technology to give quick brain scans to every person with depression to determine specifics so it’s best to be upfront about your symptoms in order for our team to help you choose a treatment that will work best for you.
Treatment Options for Depression
At Unity Therapy Services we understand and respect every person’s path to healing – which is why we are experienced and trained in several evidence based treatments for depression. Bilingual therapy is an option as well.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression (CBT-D):
This form of treatment explores your thoughts, core beliefs about yourself and the world, and the impact those have on your behavior and mood.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT):
This treatment focuses on regulating your emotions through using mindfulness, learning skills to tolerate emotional distress, and improving communication in relationships.
Depending on your symptoms – medication can be a benefit as you go through therapy. We do not prescribe medication at our practice but can refer you to professionals in the Temecula area that do.
Finding relief from depression is possible and we are compassionate about helping you navigate towards healing. Unity Therapy Services is located in Temecula and we serve people in Riverside County and San Diego as well. To learn more about our team or our rates and fees click the links available. We have bilingual therapy available. You can request an appointment by clicking here or by calling our office at (951) 303-0006. Our office hours are 9 AM – 6 PM, Monday thru Friday, and Saturday from 9 AM – 1 PM. We look forward to hearing from you.