Depression

George Michael Cuesta, PhD is a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist / Neuropsychologist practicing at the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains (Westchester County), New York who specializes in treating depression.

In any given 1 year period, 9.5 percent of the population, or about 18.8 million American adults, suffer from a depressive illness.  Depression or depressive illness frequently hinders normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have the disorder, but also to those who care about the individual affected with the depressive disorder.  Depression is a psychological condition that changes how you think and feel, and also affects your social behavior and sense of physical well-being.

Depression is not something you can just "snap out of." Depression caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals, along with other factors. Like any serious medical condition, depression needs to be treated.

Frequent Symptoms of Depression Include:

Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
Restlessness, irritability
Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts

The first step in fighting depression is to understand what it is, how it affects you, and what causes it. Some resources pertaining to depress and how a psychologist can help can be found here:

Facts about depression, including how to manage it and how to live with this medical condition.
http://www.depression.com

National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm 

Depression Information and Treatment Information
http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/

Feel free to contact George Michael Cuesta, PhD  at the Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, New York to schedule an appointment to diagnosis or treat your depression.