Here are the signs and symptoms to look out for.
There are moments in our life when we may feel sad, hopeless or blue. It’s normal to have these feelings sometimes, especially if they come during a challenging time, such as a breakup or losing a loved one; however, when these feelings persist, you may wonder if you have depression. If you are concerned about depression, our Warwick, RI, psychologist Dr. Louis Turchetta can provide a safe, welcoming environment to discuss your feelings and help you cope with your depression.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Depression?
When feelings of sadness, loneliness and hopelessness last a while, are severe or impact your daily life, then it’s time to seek help from our Warwick, RI, team of experts. Untreated depression can lead to intense pain and even suicide, so it’s crucial that you don’t ignore your symptoms. Signs and symptoms of depression include,
- Unexplained fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual
- Feeling guilt, worthless or helpless
- Losing interest in activities and things you once loved
- Loss of appetite or overeating
- Unexplained aches and pains that don’t go away
- Digestive issues
- Feelings of numbness, sadness or emptiness
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts
- Restlessness
- Increased irritability
- Problems with memory and concentration
It’s important to note when the symptoms began and how long you’ve been dealing with them. You’ll also want to let us know during your intake session if you have a family history of mental illness.
How Is Depression Treated?
Most people turn to their regular doctor when they are experiencing symptoms of depression, and then their doctor refers them to us when they believe a mental health specialist can better address their issues. Your primary care doctor must rule out possible physical causes for your symptoms before turning to us. If there are no physical causes for your symptoms, we can perform the necessary assessments to determine what type of clinical depression you have.
What Should I Expect From Therapy?
We provide a safe, welcoming environment for our patients to discuss their feelings. During psychotherapy, Dr. Turchetta helps the individual discuss issues in their past or present that may be causing these issues. We can also point out and correct negative and limiting behaviors and beliefs holding you back while providing coping mechanisms to help you better manage depression. Sometimes, we may refer you to a psychiatrist for medication, which can also be used with psychotherapy.
Strategic Psychological Services provides individual, family and couples therapy to tackle everything from grief to depression. To schedule an intake with Dr. Turchetta, call our Warwick, RI, practice at (401) 785-0040.