What is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

Feeling sad for periods of time is a part of the human condition - MDD is not. Symptoms of major depressive disorder can look like sadness; however, the severity of symptoms and the degree to which an individual’s life is impaired is much greater. People experiencing clinical depression experience an intense, negative mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities for a prolonged period of time. Symptoms may impact a person’s ability to concentrate, sleep, and function in everyday life.

Depression can be effectively managed and treated in different ways, but the most common approaches are medication (antidepressants) and therapy. My approach to treatment utilizes Behavioral Activation to work towards increasing positive experiences through involvement in activities that a person values. Enjoyment and productivity is directly tied to mood, so by increasing participation in these types of activities, mood improves. As simple as this may sound, it can be very difficult to do when feeling depressed, which is why it is important to work together through treatment.