It’s believed that two parts of the brain are responsible for anxiety and depression: the amygdala and the hippocampus. The dorsomedial thalamus may be involved in depression. It’s not really known what causes anxiety or depression, but there may be a predisposition for anxiety or depression that runs in families and is triggered by trauma or negative life circumstances.

In the late fall season, depression becomes more common. It’s also common for anxiety and depression to exacerbate each other, and symptoms can be quite severe. It’s definitely important to seek professional care if you suspect you or a loved one may be dealing with one issue or the other, or both.

It’s common for depression to manifest itself physically and in other ways with stomach pains, disrupted sleep, or headaches, but there are many other mental symptoms and other symptoms. Anxiety can be a sign and symptom of depression. Some of the more common symptoms of depression tend to be:

– A loss of interest in some of the activities you used to enjoy, even sex
– Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or anxiety
– Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
– Restlessness, fatigue, low energy, and/or irritability
– Trouble with focusing, remembering, or decision making
– Insomnia, wakefulness in the early morning, or excessive sleeping
– Overeating or loss of appetite
– Aches, pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that don’t seem to respond to treatment
– Suicidal thoughts or attempts – Please, if you feel suicidal or if you know someone who you believe could be suicidal, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-SUICIDE

There definitely is help available. First, it’s important to have anxiety or depression properly diagnosed, which means getting it professionally diagnosed. This involves professional evaluation and physical tests. As for treatment, quite often, a combination of both psychotherapy and pharmacology (medication) is the best approach to take.

Here at Advanced Psych Care, we’re able to help in many ways, like by referring patients quickly to professional therapists. We can also help with medication management if you’re currently taking medication or multiple medications. It could be that a medication is causing your symptoms or that you just need a different dose or a different medication.

Since Advanced Psych Care is a private, non-government provider, we may be more accessible to you than a public provider, and we may be able to provide services with minimal wait times, as opposed to public providers which can have excessive wait times. Advanced Psych Care’s owner and practitioner are Norrine McNelley PMHNP-BC, a psychiatric nurse practitioner who’s board-certified to treat psychiatric/mental illnesses in patients in the New Hampshire and Massachusetts areas. She can refer you quickly to a therapist, help you with your medication, provide from-home telepsychiatry, or help in other ways.

Yes, we do. Advanced Psych Care offers support near you at Salem, NH. Connect with us today if you believe you or a loved one would benefit from the services of Norrine McNelley PMHNP-BC. She would be happy to speak with you about medication, your mental health, or anything else on your mind over the phone, over the internet, or in person. We serve patients from Salem NH, Windham NH, Atkinson NH, Plaistow NH, Pelham NH, Hampstead, NH and surrounding areas.