Depression Specialist

Washington Center for Women's and Children's Wellness (WCWCW)

Child, Adolescent, Women’s & Reproductive Psychiatry located in Bethesda, MD and offering Telehealth appointments in Maryland, Virginia, DC, Florida and Michigan

Depression is an illness that can have devastating effects on your mood, physical health, and daily routine. Our experts at WCWCW in Bethesda, Maryland, specialize in a multipronged team treatment approach for all types of depression. Your plan may include medication, psychotherapy, and behavioral strategies that help you overcome the many challenges associated with this serious and common disorder. Get started today on your journey out of depression. We provide the same high-quality service via telehealth for patients living in Maryland, DC, Virginia, Michigan, and Florida. Call our office or request an appointment online today.

Depression Q & A

All Services > Our Specialties > Women's Psychiatry > Mood Disorders > Depression

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What is depression?

Depression is a mood state in which a person, often for no particular reason, can feel sad, down, empty or hopeless. This feeling may also be accompanied by irritability, withdrawal from activities, and even thoughts of wanting to no longer be alive.

Those with depression will often have difficulty functioning due to low energy, difficulty with concentration, and lack of motivation. Depression takes many forms and can be characterized as being seasonally related, precipitated by stressors and life transitions, or caused by certain medical conditions such as thyroid abnormalities.

Depression affects an estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) in any given year. And one in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life. Depression can occur at any time, but on average, first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Women are more likely than men to experience depression. Some studies show that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime. There is a high degree of heritability (approximately 40%) when first-degree relatives (parents/children/siblings) have depression.

What are the symptoms of depression?

Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person but often include:

Prolonged sad or “flat” mood
Weight loss or gain due to changes in appetite
Sleep disturbance that may include restless sleep, insomnia, or sleeping too much
Decreased interest in activities you previously enjoyed
Increased irritability
Difficulty concentrating
Inability to make decisions
Fatigue
Feelings of worthlessness
Sense of hopelessness
Lack of motivation
Self-medicating with food, drugs, or alcohol

Depression can also cause physical symptoms such as headaches, nausea, abdominal discomfort, and sharp or aching pain in your muscles and joints.

If you have severe depression, you may also begin to entertain thoughts of death or suicide. If you are thinking of suicide or fear you may act on these thoughts, DO NOT WAIT FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST. Instead please go to your closest emergency room and seek immediate medical attention.

What treatments are available for depression?

Severe depression accompanied by suicidal thoughts or ideation may require a hospital stay. Otherwise, treatment for depression typically includes medication, psychotherapy, and guidance regarding changes you can make at home or work to help ensure a successful outcome.

You don’t have to live with depression. Our specialists at WCWCW in Bethesda, Maryland, offer the supportive care you need to overcome the challenges of depression. We provide the same high-quality service via telehealth for patients living in Maryland, DC, Virginia, Michigan, and Florida. Call our office or request an appointment online today.