Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder
Major depression is more than a bad week. It's a low mood or loss of interest that lasts at least two weeks, along with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, focus and how a person sees themselves. It is one of the most common mental health conditions in the country, and also one of the most treatable.
Signs to watch for
Mood. Sadness, emptiness, irritability, or feeling numb.
Interest. Things that used to matter no longer do.
Body. Sleeping too much or too little, changes in appetite or weight, slowed movement, constant tiredness.
Thinking. Trouble concentrating or deciding, guilt, feeling worthless.
Thoughts of death or suicide. These always deserve a direct conversation with a professional.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 988 any time.
Why therapy alone sometimes isn't enough
Depression shrinks a person's world. The dishes pile up, the job search stops, friends stop getting texts back. An hour of therapy a week can help someone understand what's happening, but the hard part is the other 167 hours.
That gap is where Sanare works. For clients whose depression has gone on for a long time, keeps coming back, or sits alongside another condition, steady support in daily life often makes the difference.
What we do
A Sanare clinician might come to a client's apartment on Monday to plan three small things for the week, meet them at the gym on Wednesday, and check in Friday on how it went. That rhythm, repeated, rebuilds momentum.
Behavioral activation. Planning and doing activities that bring back a sense of purpose or enjoyment, even before motivation returns.
CBT in real settings. Working with the thoughts that keep someone stuck, right where they come up.
Routines. Sleep, meals, hygiene and movement, built back one piece at a time.
Work and school. Returning on a realistic timeline, with help talking to employers or professors.
Connection. Reaching back out to people and finding places to be around others.
We don't prescribe medication. Many of our clients take antidepressants, and we stay in touch with their prescriber so concerns get passed along quickly.
When it keeps coming back
About half of people who have one episode of major depression will have another. After two or three, the odds of more go up. For people in that pattern, the goal shifts from getting through one episode to building a life that holds up when the next one starts: routines that don't fall apart, a few people who notice early, and a plan written while well. That longer view is a big part of how we work.
Learn more
Mayo Clinic has a good overview of depression, and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance runs free peer support groups. See also our pages on mood disorders and older adults.
Depression treatment in Denver
Sanare works with adults 18 and older across the Denver and Boulder metro, at home and in the community. Contact us or call 303.476.1974 to talk about whether our support fits.