Depression is a mental health disorder that commonly presents with feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a general lack of motivation or desire to engage with life in any meaningful sort of way.
Depressed people often find themselves simply going through the motions of day-to-day life without seeing any joy. People who suffer from depression usually describe themselves as feeling empty inside.
Depression can also have physical side effects, as it can affect sleep patterns and cause people to either suffer insomnia or oversleep. It can also lead to changes in appetite.
Depressed people can also suffer from persistent fatigue even if they have a healthy diet and sleep patterns. Most troublingly, depression can lead to suicidal ideation.
While feelings of sadness are characteristic of depression, being depressed isn’t the same as being sad. Depression is a mental health condition caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Many people will experience a depressive episode in their lifetime, and many will not seek any mental health treatment because they may not recognize that they need help.
At Luxe Recovery, we can provide the help patients need to manage their symptoms and live full, healthy lives.
What Is An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)?
An IOP is an outpatient program that offers a flexible but professional treatment plan for individuals with busy lifestyles who also need support.
Under an IOP, instead of seeking inpatient treatment at a treatment center, a person can continue to live at home and attend multiple therapy sessions a week to receive the care that they need.
Some research suggests that outpatient therapy helps with depression and can be as effective at treating depressive disorders as an inpatient program.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) are distinct from other outpatient treatments, such as Partial Hospitalization Programs. An IOP requires far less of a patient’s time and is also better suited to those with less severe disorders.
What is an IOP for Depression?
Many who need treatment for depression will go to individual therapy, take medication, or a combination of both. Some people may need far more care than seeing their therapist once a week but don’t have the option of an inpatient program.
For those people, an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) may be the exact type of treatment that they need as opposed to traditional therapy.
What to Expect in Outpatient Therapy for Depressive Disorders
An IOP can employ numerous methods to treat patients. These methods include:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a type of therapy that focuses on finding a balance between two opposing ideas and is focused on the principles of mindfulness and acceptance.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a type of therapy that focuses on the relationships between a person’s feelings and their actions. It focuses on identifying and restructuring harmful thought patterns and giving people the coping skills they need to improve their mental health.
Group Therapy
At Luxe Recovery, our IOPs include group therapy sessions to foster a supportive community based on a sense of camaraderie and mutual understanding/support among those who are undergoing treatment for mental health disorders.
Family Therapy
Our IOPs include family therapy sessions so loved ones are better equipped to help an individual who is in recovery and to repair any strain that the symptoms of depression may have caused.
Who Can Benefit From an IOP?
Many individuals can benefit from an IOP treatment program. IOPs are flexible enough to allow people to live their lives while also continuing to receive the treatment that they need to manage their depression. These individuals include:
Individuals in Transition
Some individuals complete inpatient treatment for their depression or have reached significant milestones on the road to recovery and are in a place where they need to return to their everyday lives and get a step-down level of care.
An intensive outpatient program allows them to continue receiving treatment from qualified mental health professionals while also living their lives.
Working People or Students
Working professionals and students may not always have the option of pausing their professional or academic commitments to check themselves into an inpatient therapy program. As such, they’ll have to seek outpatient treatment for depression. An IOP offers them the care they need while allowing them to meet their commitments.
People with Families
In the same vein as the above, people with families may not be able to leave their families for inpatient treatment. An IOP allows them to receive a high level of care while meeting their familial obligations.
Those with Mild to Moderate Disorders
Depression does not affect everyone the same way. Some people can function generally whilst being depressed, whereas others will barely be able to function. People with mild to moderate levels of depression may benefit from IOP.
When Do I Know I Need Treatment for Depression?
Depression is a disorder that can sneak up on you. People who suffer from it may not always be aware that they have it, let alone know when to seek help. Many people who are depressed often feel like they’re just stuck in a rut.
Depression can be insidious in that even if a person realizes that they have it, their condition may have caused them to alienate themselves from their friends and family, isolating them from their immediate support system.
As such, it’s essential to realize some of the signs of depression and seek professional help as soon as possible. These signs can include:
Fatigue
People with depression often report increased and persistent fatigue regardless of what they eat or how much sleep they can get. This fatigue can get to the point that simple tasks, such as getting out of bed, can feel overwhelming.
Loss of Interest
People with depression often lose interest in things that used to bring them joy and find themselves withdrawing from social interactions.
Low Self-Esteem
Depressed people often feel guilty for no reason and experience very low self-esteem. Many people with depression also struggle with constant self-criticism.
What Causes Depression?
At its root, depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. It’s a disease like any other and can be caused by several things. These include:
Genetics
Some people are biologically predisposed to have a variety of mental health disorders. Those with a family history of mental illness are more likely to develop mental health conditions themselves.
The Weather
Some people are prone to experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is when a person experiences depressive episodes in the fall and winter.
It’s theorized that this is due to the shorter days and reduced daylight. Some research even suggests that being born during the winter months can make a person more prone to depression, but this is still a topic of debate.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors such as stress or trauma can contribute to the onset of depression. A lack of social interaction can also lead to feelings of isolation, which can trigger depression symptoms.
Substance Use
Some substances are depressants, affecting brain chemistry and potentially leading to depression. Alcohol is a particularly noteworthy substance in this regard.
Illnesses
Chronic illnesses and pain can all lead to the onset of depression, as these can all wear a person down and lead to feelings of hopelessness and fatigue.
How to Decide Between Inpatient and Outpatient Mental Health Treatment
The severity of a person’s mental health symptoms will determine the level of care that they need. To decide the best treatment approach to help individuals struggling with mental health symptoms, a treatment team will have to assess a patient’s condition and history thoroughly.
Get Help Now
If you’re at a point where you feel like life has no meaning – or you know someone who feels that way – then you or your loved one may be suffering from depression.
Please don’t wait until it’s too late. At Luxe Recovery LA, we’re ready to help you with evidence-based methods that have proven effective in treating depression. Contact us today and begin your recovery. We accept most forms of insurance.
