Rehab Educates Community on Stages of Depression

Georgetown, DE - SUN Behavioral Health recently published a blog post that educates people on the four stages of depression. These stages were first proposed in a 2017 scientific essay as wellness, distress, depressive disorder, and recurrent or refractory depressive disorder. These stages reflect the severity of depression someone is experiencing and can indicate if intensive mental health care is necessary.

"The author of the essay suggested that the stages of depression can give medical professionals a better approach to treating this condition than the previous one-size-fits-all method of 'well' or 'ill.' These categories offer a guideline of how to treat someone with depression and what they need based on the symptoms and severity they are experiencing. No matter the stage, it is still important to address depression appropriately, as neglecting it can allow it to worsen into later, more severe stages," the blog post states.

While there have been some reports that the stages of depression are similar to the stages of grief, there has been little to no research to back up this claim. The stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages occur when someone is grieving and are not always linear or in a specific order. On the other hand, the stages of depression are a spectrum of severity. Someone in the recurrent or refractory depressive disorder stage is experiencing more severe depression than someone in the wellness stage. Denial and acceptance are not severity extremes on a spectrum.

During the wellness stage, people have little to no depressive symptoms. Occasional sadness and stress may occur, but not enough to impact their daily lives. Someone in this stage can continue to enjoy doing things and may have been referred to as "well" in the past. Being aware of potential risk factors can help ensure someone stays healthy. These include a personal or family history of depression, anxiety, significant life changes, physical health conditions, and trauma. Prevention methods include having a nurturing environment, learning life skills, and staying on top of these risk factors.

Mild to moderate symptoms of depression begin to develop in the distress stage. They might not significantly impact a person's life, but they can make it a little discomforting to accomplish tasks. Symptoms in the distress stage last for less than two weeks. Building strong social networks helps build self-esteem, confidence, and social skills. Practicing self-care and maintaining one's physical health are essential to preventing distress from worsening into more severe stages.

In the depressive disorder stage, symptoms become severely distressing for at least 2 to 4 weeks, and a person's ability to function is significantly impaired. Treatment for depression is required for a person to recover, which might include medication, therapy, or a combination of both. Medications typically involve antidepressants, while therapy includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to learn skills that allow them to feel better. Maintaining one's physical health at the same time as one's mental health is still vital at this stage. While a consistent sleep schedule, diet, and exercise may become challenging, it can help reduce symptoms.

Refractory or recurrent depressive disorder is the most severe stage of depression and is often not responsive to treatment. It can also occur if someone continues to return to the depressive disorder stage after recovering briefly. Stabilization is necessary as people may have suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Crisis care, inpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient are required levels of care. Someone in this stage may also require more than one medication to reach stabilization, as a combination can help them feel better.

"Getting the appropriate treatment for the stage of depression you are currently experiencing can significantly improve your life and prevent complications from occurring. When you arrive at treatment, you will be assessed to determine what treatment plan will work best for you and allow you to return to a healthier, more satisfying life," the blog post continues.

SUN Behavioral Health Delaware solves unmet needs in Georgetown. Their website provides a no-cost depression survey that can help people determine what stage of depression they might be in. The use of this tool is not an official diagnosis, but it can help someone know if they might require more intensive care for their depression symptoms. They also provide 24/7 crisis care that can help someone find stabilization in the event of a crisis like one found in the later stages of depression. People do not need to call ahead of time to make an appointment.

To learn more about SUN Behavioral Health, visit their website or call 302-604-5600. SUN Behavioral Health solves unmet needs.