Depression tends to cause significant changes to your energy levels, libido, and sleeping patterns. Is not eating a sign of depression, though? You can learn more about depression and how it can impact you when you contact us at Promises. Begin your depression treatment by calling us at 844.875.5609 today.
Depression’s Impact: Both Physical and Emotional Effects
Depression is a serious medical condition that impacts how you think, feel, and even act. It can lead to a variety of physical and emotional problems that interfere with both your personal and professional life.
Some of the most common signs of depression include:
- Sleeping too much or having trouble sleeping
- Losing interest in activities you once loved
- Feeling fatigued
- Feeling guilty or worthless
- Having an increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., pacing, handwringing)
- Having thoughts of death or suicide
- Experiencing the inability to feel pleasure
But is not eating a sign of depression? Depression and loss of appetite are indeed linked. For many people, it is a main sign that they’re sinking into a depression. One of the reasons why this occurs is that depression tends to increase the production of cortisol and corticotropin-releasing factors, two stress hormones.
Depression and Your Appetite
High stress hormone levels can lead to an increase in stomach acids. You can feel nauseated or like you have a knot in your stomach, making it more difficult to recognize any hunger cues your body sends.
Depression can also cause a change in the way that food tastes. This comes about because of the development of anhedonia, which is the inability to feel pleasure. Anhedonia is a symptom of major depressive disorder, and it impacts the reward center of the brain, potentially making food less tasty.
One important thing to remember is that not getting the right amount of nutrients can worsen depression symptoms, which leads to further appetite loss.
Dealing With Depression and Loss of Appetite
Depression is not something you can just get over. It’s a mental health condition that is as real as a physical illness like diabetes or heart disease. What’s even more important to know, though, is that it’s treatable.
To get the help you need if you’re struggling with mental health concerns and have fallen into the vicious cycle of depression and appetite loss, you need to turn to mental health professionals. At Promises, we offer treatment programs that can assist you in addressing the causes of depression.
Effective and Personalized Care
We provide both residential and outpatient treatment programs. For those who are just starting their journey to healing or who don’t have supportive home environments, one of the best options is residential treatment. It allows you to step away from your everyday stresses and focus on getting the help you need.
Outpatient services are a good choice for people who have a safe home environment and can’t take time away from their family or work responsibilities but still need a high level of care. You don’t have to stay at the facilities overnight and can choose from different levels of treatment.
No matter what treatment option you choose, we provide individual and group therapy sessions to help you address the cause of depression. If you have co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions, we also offer dual-diagnosis treatment programs.
By relying on evidence-based therapies, we can equip you with the tools you need to achieve long-term mental health.
Trust Promises for Tailored Depression Treatment Options
Dealing with depression every day can take its toll on you, both mentally and physically. One of the ways that it can physically impact you is by making you lose your appetite. If you want to start healing, turning to an evidence-based treatment program can be essential.
At Promises, we offer a variety of treatment options to help you start healing. Contact us to speak with one of our experts by calling 844.875.5609 today.