Chicago’s Preferred Hospital for Depression Treatment

The symptoms of depression can show up in a variety of ways that look different for different people. This means that the combination of symptoms present (as well as their severity) can vary depending on the individual. To receive a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, a person must experience symptoms for two weeks and show a notable shift in their ability to function.  

Common depression symptoms can include: 

• Feeling sad, hopeless, empty, or teary 
• Reduced interest or pleasure in regular activities 
• Appetite changes alongside significant weight loss or weight gain 
• Fatigue or lack of energy 
• Feeling worthless or excessively guilty 
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions  
• Sleeping too much (hypersomnia) or too little (insomnia) 
• Observable restlessness or agitation 
• Difficulty functioning or meeting commitments at work, school, or home 
• Physical aches and pains 
• Reoccurring thoughts of death or suicide 

If you are experiencing symptoms of depression that are negatively impacting your life, it may be helpful to seek treatment. Acting sooner rather than later may also reduce your risk for experiencing severe symptoms in the future. 

A variety of factors may contribute to depression. These include environmental factors like trauma and stress, the presence of other medical and psychiatric conditions, and genetic risk factors, which may put family members of people who have the disorder at higher risk. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), people may develop depression at any age, but prevalence of the disorder is particularly high among young adults. 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 8.4% of the United States population, around 21 million adults, had at least one major depressive episode in 2020. A major depressive episode is the period when someone experiences depression symptoms.  

The American Psychiatric Association also provides the following statistics on the prevalence of depression: 

• An estimated 1 in 15 adults (6.7%) have depression each year.  
• One in 6 people (16.6%) will have depression during their lifetime.  
• Research suggests that 1 in 3 women will have a major depressive episode during their life.  

In addition to its often debilitating physical and emotional symptoms, depression can have a devastating effect on the way a person engages with the world, leading to social and occupational difficulties. Depression can also seriously harm an individual’s physical health and mental well-being, including putting a person at risk for suicidal behavior.  

If left untreated, depression can lead to health problems that may include increased risk for heart attack and cardiovascular disease and a weakened immune system. 

Additional effects of depression can include: 

• Difficulty maintaining relationships 
• Social isolation 
• Performance challenges at school or work 
• Higher levels of distraction, memory difficulties, and difficulty completing complex tasks 
• Substance use or addiction, which may also lead to increased risk-taking behavior 
• Co-occurring mental health concerns 
• Struggles with self-esteem  
• Difficulty attending to basic self-care  
• Changes in eating patterns 
• Thoughts about suicide 
• Self-harm 

By seeking supportive care at a depression treatment center, you can safely begin the process of healing from the physical, emotional, and social impacts of depression. You can also take steps to rebuild areas of your life depression has affected and protect yourself from possible long-term harm. 

It’s important to remember that depression is a mental illness, so receiving specialized treatment can greatly contribute to healing. By getting depression treatment, you may experience a range of physical and emotional benefits that can include better sleep, pain relief, and improved cognition and work performance.  

Our depression treatment center strives to provide patients with the highest levels of respect, dignity, and empathy, understanding that treatment is a collaborative process that should be tailored to the patient’s unique needs and goals. 

Here are some key benefits of seeking depression treatment at Montrose Behavioral Health Hospital: 

• You can receive an individualized treatment plan designed just for you. 
• You have access to evidence-based treatments and support from a multidisciplinary treatment team. 
• Your treatment plan includes tailored discharge planning and aftercare that can help you progress in your healing after treatment ends. This might include referrals to step-down treatment services or community support services.  

Depression is highly treatable, and most people who struggle with depression show improvement in response to treatment. 

Much like the symptoms of depression, healing from depression can look different for each person. 

Starting treatment may feel daunting, especially if you have been experiencing chronic depression symptoms. However, it’s important to know that treatment can work and that long-term healing — with its many physical, emotional, and cognitive benefits — is possible. 

Common depression treatments can include medication and therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can help you develop healthier ways of responding to negative thoughts. At our inpatient depression treatment center, patients can also receive basic medical care and may participate in individual, family, and group therapy sessions.  

Unfortunately, people who are struggling with depression can sometimes feel shame or low self-worth. In spite of these challenges, know that you deserve to be healthy and that healing is possible with supportive treatment. 

At Montrose Behavioral Health Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, we use a collaborative treatment approach that involves family members and friends when appropriate. Our staff includes psychiatrists, registered nurses, licensed clinical social workers, mental health workers, teachers, and other specialists and medical professionals. 

We help empower patients to participate actively in their treatment so that they can build the lives they want. 

Our inpatient depression treatment center is ready to support you or your loved one on the path to healing.