Depression/Anxiety

A clinical diagnosis of depression covers a rather wide range of mood disorders that can vary in how they manifest and affect the patient. If you have been diagnosed with depression, or if you are struggling with symptoms of depression, Advanced Family Medical Care is here to help. Our compassionate staff understands that living with depression can be exhausting, and we want to not only treat the symptoms but help you, as a person, feel your best.

Signs and symptoms of depression may include, but are not limited to:

• Feelings of hopelessness
• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” moods
• Irritability
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Loss of interest in activities, especially those you may have previously enjoyed
• Fatigue
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Trouble sleeping, early-morning waking, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight changes
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Aches and pains, headaches, cramps, and digestive problems without any apparent physical cause

Depression can be caused by several factors and varies from person to person. Certain factors that can contribute to depression include:

• Brain chemistry
• Family history of depression
• Personal history of other disorders such as anxiety, PTSD, etc.
• Stressful, traumatic life events
• Hormone fluctuations due to menstrual cycles, pregnancy, etc.
• Medications such as sleeping aids, pain medications, and blood pressure medications
• Substance abuse

Additionally, there are nine distinct types of depression:

1. Major depression – most common and usually recurrent throughout the person’s life
2. Dysthymia – also called Persistent Depressive Disorder due to a persistently low mood that lasts at least two years, sometimes described as feeling like living on “autopilot”
3. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – depression brought about by lack of natural sunlight, typically occurs during winter months when the days are shorter
4. Atypical depression – those affected often report a feeling of heaviness in their limbs, and may also experience irritability, overeating, oversleeping, and relationship problems
5. Bipolar disorder – also called Manic Depressive Disorder due to the alternating episodes of depression and mania
6. Psychotic depression – a depressive episode so severe that the person begins hallucinating and becomes somewhat catatonic
7. Postpartum depression – begins after giving birth and extends beyond typical “baby blues” (which clears up within two weeks); can last for several months or more and includes feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, exhaustion, and sometimes fears of harming one’s self or the new baby
8. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder – a severe depression that occurs during the second half of the menstrual cycle (after ovulation) and can include irritability, anger, and hopelessness
9. Situational depression – triggered by life-changing events such as divorce, death of a loved one, job loss, etc.

Depending on the type of depression and the cause, there are numerous treatment options we can explore to determine the one that will work best for you. Every person is unique and what works for one patient may not work for another, so we always consider the whole person before deciding how best to help you.

To speak with a doctor about your symptoms, please call our office at. We’d love to help you and look forward to your call.

Anxiety is defined by the American Psychological Association (APA) as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.” It affects approximately 40 million Americans, or 18.1% of the population, making it the most commonly diagnosed mental illness in the country. Anxiety can be broken down into several more specific types, which include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) – affects 6.8 million adults or 3.1% of U.S. population
• Panic disorder (PD) – affects 6 million adults or 2.7% of U.S. population
• Social anxiety disorder (SAD) – affects 15 million adults or 6.8% of U.S. population
• Specific phobias – affect 19 million adults or 8.7% of the U.S. population
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – affects 2.2 million adults or 1% of the U.S. population
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – affects 7.7 million adults or 3.5% of the U.S. population

Many people who experience anxiety have more than one of the above, so some of those statistics overlap. However, it is easy to see how pervasive an issue like anxiety is – nearly 1 in 5 people struggle with it regularly. Anxiety disorders develop from a variety of compounding factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.

At Advanced Family Medical Care, we treat anxiety in all its forms, and we are confident we can find a course of treatment to help you too! We believe that no one should have to live with anxiety and understand that even taking the first step to speak with a doctor about it can be intimidating. Our staff and doctor are compassionate and very familiar with the symptoms of anxiety, which can include:

• Nervousness, restlessness, and feeling like you cannot relax
• Feelings of danger, panic, and dread
• Rapid heart rate and breathing or hyperventilation
• Increased or heavy sweating
• Muscle twitching or trembling
• Weakness or lethargy
• Difficulty focusing
• Insomnia
• Digestive problems
• Avoidant behavior
• Obsessions about certain ideas

You can rest easy knowing that your care is in the best hands at Advanced Family Medical Care. We will carefully go over any symptoms you are experiencing, your medical history, and any other relevant factors such as life events and behaviors. After we’ve gone over this, your doctor can then suggest a plan for treatment. Sometimes this may need to be adjusted over time, but we are always here for you, and providing effective treatment is our utmost goal.

If you’d like to request an appointment to speak with a doctor about anxiety, please call our office at, and a friendly member of our staff will be happy to help you.