Symptoms of Adult Depression

Feeling sad is normal. But when sadness won't go away, you might have depression. The good news? Depression can be treated. You can feel better.

At Sunset Behavioral Health, solo provider Luisa Garcia, a dual certified family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over 13 years of experience, helps adults in Florida who feel stuck in sadness. She speaks English and Spanish. She can see you within 48 hours. Let's talk about what depression looks like and how we can help.

What Is Depression?

Depression is more than just having a bad day. It's when you feel very sad, empty, or hopeless for at least two weeks. These feelings make it hard to do normal things like work, eat, or spend time with people you love.

Depression is a real health problem. It's not your fault. It's not a sign that you're weak. Many people have depression. With the right help, you can feel like yourself again.

How Depression Makes You Feel Inside

Sadness That Won't Leave

When you have depression, you feel sad most of the day, almost every day. This isn't the kind of sadness that goes away after a good cry or a nice day. It stays with you like a heavy blanket you can't take off.

You might feel:

• Empty inside

• Hopeless about the future

• Like nothing will ever get better

• Cranky or mad for no clear reason

• Like you want to cry but can't

Feeling Bad About Yourself

Depression tricks your brain into thinking mean things about yourself. You might think:

• "I'm not good enough"

• "Everything is my fault"

• "I always mess things up"

• "No one really likes me"

These thoughts aren't true. Depression makes them feel real, but they're not facts about who you are.

What Depression Does to Your Body

Depression doesn't just hurt your feelings. It changes how your body works too.

Sleep Problems

Depression messes with your sleep in different ways:

• Can't fall asleep: You lie in bed for hours, but your brain won't turn off

• Wake up too early: You might wake up at 4 AM and can't get back to sleep

• Sleep too much: Some people sleep 10, 12, or even 14 hours but still feel tired

• Bad dreams: You might have scary or sad dreams that make sleep not restful

Changes in Eating

Depression can change how much you want to eat:

• No appetite: Food doesn't taste good anymore. You forget to eat or don't feel hungry

• Eating too much: Some people eat to try to feel better, even when they're not hungry

• Weight changes: You might lose or gain weight without trying

Feeling Tired All the Time

With depression, you feel exhausted even when you haven't done much. Simple tasks like taking a shower or making lunch feel like climbing a mountain. You might feel like you're moving through thick honey.

Body Aches

Depression can cause real physical pain:

• Headaches that won't go away

• Stomach problems

• Back or neck pain

• Muscle aches

Providers might not find anything wrong, but the pain is real.

How Depression Affects Your Thinking

Hard to Focus

When you have depression, your brain feels foggy. You might:

• Read the same sentence three times

• Forget what someone just told you

• Lose track of conversations

• Make simple mistakes at work

• Feel like your mind is moving in slow motion

Hard to Make Decisions

Even small choices feel impossible. You might spend 20 minutes trying to pick what to wear or what to eat for lunch. Big decisions feel overwhelming.

Negative Thoughts

Depression fills your mind with dark thoughts. You might think about:

• How nothing ever goes right

• How you're a burden to others

• How the future looks scary

• How you don't want to be here anymore

If you think about hurting yourself, get help right away. Call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

How Depression Changes Your Social Life

Not Wanting to Be Around People

When you have depression, being around others feels hard. You might:

• Cancel plans with friends

• Stop going to family dinners

• Avoid phone calls

• Stay home more and more

• Feel like you're bothering people

Losing Interest in Fun Things

Activities you used to love don't feel good anymore. You might stop:

• Playing sports you enjoyed

• Watching your favorite TV shows

• Listening to music

• Doing hobbies

• Going out with friends

This isn't because you're lazy. Depression steals joy from things that used to make you happy.

When to Get Help

You should talk to someone if you have several of these symptoms for more than two weeks:

• Feeling sad, empty, or hopeless most days

• Not enjoying things you used to love

• Big changes in sleep or eating

• Feeling tired all the time

• Trouble thinking clearly

• Feeling bad about yourself

• Not wanting to be around people

Remember: Getting help is brave, not weak. Depression is treatable. You can feel better.

How Sunset Behavioral Health Can Help

At Sunset Behavioral Health, we understand how hard depression feels. Our solo provider, Luisa Garcia, a dual certified family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over 13 years of experience, helps adults all over Florida through telehealth visits. You don't have to drive anywhere or sit in a waiting room.

Why Choose Us?

• Fast help: We can see you within 48 hours, not months

• Your language: We provide services in English and Spanish

• From home: Meet with Luisa from your couch through video calls

• Real care: Luisa understands what you're going through

• Hope: Luisa has helped many people feel better, and she can help you too

Meet Luisa Garcia, PMHNP — a dual certified family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over 13 years of experience

Luisa Garcia, a dual certified family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over 13 years of experience, is our solo provider and nurse practitioner who specializes in helping adults with depression. She speaks both English and Spanish. Luisa understands that each person is different. She'll work with you to create a plan that fits your life.

What to Expect

During your first visit, Luisa will:

• Listen to your story

• Talk about how you're feeling

• Explain different ways to help

• Make a plan together

• Answer all your questions

Luisa might talk about:

• Therapy to learn new ways of thinking

• Medicine that can help your brain feel better

• Changes you can make at home

• Support from family and friends

You Don't Have to Feel This Way Forever

Depression feels like it will last forever, but it won't. Many people get better with the right help. You deserve to feel happy again. You deserve to enjoy life.

Treatment works. With our help, you can:

• Feel more energy

• Sleep better at night

• Enjoy time with family and friends

• Feel hopeful about the future

• Get back to doing things you love

Ready to Feel Better?

You don't have to fight depression alone. Sunset Behavioral Health is here to help. We make getting care easy and comfortable.

Book your free 15-minute consultation today. During this call, you can ask questions and see if we're a good fit. There's no pressure, just caring support.

Call us or visit our website to schedule. Luisa can see you within 48 hours. Taking this first step takes courage, but you've already shown how strong you are by reading this far.

Your brighter days are waiting. Let's find them together.

¿Prefieres hablar en español? Luisa speaks Spanish too. She's here to help you in the language that feels most comfortable.

Learn more about our virtual psychiatric care in Florida or meet Luisa Garcia, a dual certified family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over 13 years of experience to see how we can help you feel better.