Depression: Symptoms, Types, and Treatment

Depression is a common and serious medical condition that affects how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities, and it is far more than feeling sad or having a hard week. The National Institute of Mental Health describes depression as one of the most common mental health conditions and, at the same time, one of the most treatable. A person living with depression is not weak or lacking willpower. They are experiencing a real health condition that responds to care.

This article explains the symptoms of depression, describes its main types in general terms, and outlines the treatments that research supports. It also covers how depression often occurs alongside substance use, and what to do in a crisis. It is written to inform first. For anyone who decides they want help, Ascend Recovery Center in Albuquerque treats depression as a mental health condition in its own right.

Recognizing the symptoms of depression

Depression looks different from person to person, but clinicians look for a cluster of symptoms that last most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. The table below groups the symptoms that NIMH describes so they are easier to recognize in oneself or someone close.

Types of depression

Depression is an umbrella term that covers several related conditions. A clinician makes the specific diagnosis, but in general terms these are some of the forms NIMH describes. Major depression involves severe symptoms that interfere with daily life and can occur as one episode or return over time. Persistent depressive disorder is a longer-lasting, often lower-grade depression that continues for years. Some people experience depression tied to specific circumstances, such as the period after childbirth or the darker months of the year. Depression can also appear as part of bipolar disorder, where depressive episodes alternate with periods of elevated mood.

How depression is treated

Depression is highly treatable, and most people improve with the right combination of therapy and, when appropriate, medication. At Ascend, care begins with a thorough assessment that includes the PHQ-9 depression screening, the Columbia Suicide Screening, and a full biopsychosocial history, so the plan fits the person.

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps a person identify and shift the thought patterns that feed depression, while dialectical behavior therapy builds skills for managing painful emotions. Psychiatric services and medication management, overseen by our medical directors, address the medical side of the condition and are coordinated with therapy rather than handled separately. When depression is connected to past trauma, EMDR is available as part of trauma-informed care. Mindfulness and other wellness activities support recovery alongside clinical programming.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to address depressive thinking patterns
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for managing painful emotions
• Psychiatric services and medication management overseen by our medical directors
• EMDR available for trauma-linked depression, as part of trauma-informed care
• Mindfulness and wellness activities alongside clinical care

When depression and substance use occur together

Depression and substance use often appear at the same time. A person living with depression may drink or use other substances to feel better for a while, and substance use can in turn deepen depression and disrupt sleep, energy, and motivation. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that co-occurring conditions are common and that treating both together leads to better outcomes than treating either alone.

This is why integrated care matters. Ascend's mental health residential program can treat depression as the primary condition, and when a substance use disorder is also present, dual diagnosis treatment addresses both in one coordinated plan. Because Ascend offers the full continuum of care in one building, treatment can step up or down in intensity without changing providers.