I Think I’m Depressed: Can You Help?

Everyone goes through periods of sadness. But depression is a different beast altogether — and it doesn’t simply mean that you’re sad. While many people do experience low mood in a depressive episode, clinical depression comes with other symptoms that can impact virtually every part of your life.

If you think you may be depressed, we can help. Christopher Riegel, MD, and our team at The Riegel Center are here to work with you to navigate your options for depression treatment. Dr. Riegel’s goal is to help you feel like yourself again, with fewer down days and more energy. 

To help you determine if you would benefit from an appointment with us, let’s explore what depression usually looks like. 

The symptoms of depression

For starters, if you have a sad day here or there, don’t worry. That’s not depression. To be diagnosed with major depressive disorder — what doctors call depression — your symptoms need to persist for at least two weeks.

In addition to a lingering sadness, depression can cause symptoms like:

• Feelings of emptiness
• Lack of interest in things you once enjoyed
• Social isolation
• Trouble focusing
• Sleep issues
• Persistent fatigue

If any of this sounds familiar, don’t hesitate to talk to our team.

Depression and your hormones

While people get depressive symptoms for a variety of reasons, one of the most common depression triggers is a change in essential hormone levels. Your body relies on hormone regulation to stay in a state of homeostasis. 

When any part of your endocrine system gets out of whack, the resulting hormone imbalance doesn’t just affect your body; it can also influence your mind, emotions, and behaviors. 

Many women experience depression as they go through perimenopause and menopause, for example, or in the postpartum period following pregnancy and childbirth. People with endocrine disorders (like hypothyroidism) can also experience depression as a symptom of their condition. 

All told, you might be living with depression because of a hormone imbalance. Fortunately, Dr. Riegel can help. 

After a comprehensive evaluation — during which you talk about what you’ve been feeling and undergo a comprehensive blood panel test — Dr. Riegel can determine if bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT) would help your depression. 

If so, he tailors a personalized plan for you using his plant-derived, proprietary hormone formulas. Through regular check-ins with you, he fine-tunes your treatment to ensure you get optimal results. 

His goal is to help you experience fewer depressive symptoms while also enjoying the other benefits of hormone therapy, like improved energy, focus, and libido. 

If you think you might be living with depression, Dr. Riegel can help. Call our office or book your appointment online today to get started.