Major Depressive Disorder Specialist

While everyone gets sad once in a while, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression, is different. Major depressive disorder is a long-term condition that impacts more than how you feel — it changes how you think and act.

When you’re depressed, you may experience:

• Feelings of sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt

• A loss of interest in things you used to enjoy

• Changes in weight

• Lack of energy

• Slowed speech and movements

• Issues with concentration and focus

• Thoughts of death or suicide

Every case of depression is different, and you don’t need every symptom to be diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Dr. Branda reviews your symptoms to determine what type of depression you may have.

Multiple factors combine to cause major depressive disorder. Genetics, biology, environment, and psychological factors all contribute to this form of depression, which is one of the country’s most prevalent mental health conditions.

Major depressive disorder can also result from other conditions, such as a chronic medical illness like cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. Other times, feelings of sadness linger after a major loss, trauma, or stressor, and they develop into a deep depression.

Dr. Branda treats you as a whole person and not just as a list of symptoms. She works with you to understand how depression impacts every area of your life, including your mental health, physical health, your relationships, and your job.

Dr. Branda integrates psychodynamic and acceptance-based treatments. Acceptance-based treatment is a form of mindfulness therapy that helps you understand that difficulty is part of life. She empowers you to explore challenging relationships and patterns while deepening your self-awareness.

She helps you determine ways you can control stress and reach out for connections with family and friends. Dr. Branda is ready, too, when you have the earliest signs of depression escalation. She also offers maintenance treatment to help prevent relapse once your major depressive disorder is more in control.

If you or a loved one has any symptoms of major depressive disorder, seek help right away. Use the online tool to schedule with women’s mental health expert Dr. Branda or call the Summit Psychology office.