Depression Treatment Center & Hospital in Chattanooga, TN

Get the facts about treatment for depression at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital

We all experience periods of sadness from time to time. This is a normal part of life and should not be confused with depression, which is a clinical mood disorder that can severely impact your life. Struggling with depression means that you will experience prolonged periods of low mood that may not have any apparent cause. Your sleep, appetite, and energy levels may be affected, and you may struggle to meet your responsibilities at home, work, or school.

Depression can be an isolating experience, causing you to withdraw from family and friends. The deep sense of hopelessness that accompanies depression can rob you of your ability to function and can make even the simplest tasks seem difficult. Although the damages that can result from untreated depression can be severe, the good news is that it is a highly treatable condition. With the proper support from a comprehensive depression treatment program, you can embrace a healthy, recovered life.

Helping a loved one or family member get treatment for depression

Witnessing a friend or loved one struggle with depression is an incredibly painful experience. Their low mood might make them seem so different from the person you used to know, and you’re likely worried about their future. As you consider ways to support your loved one during this challenging time, know that your presence can be a critical factor in their decision to seek professional help. Before you encourage your loved one to enter treatment, please consider the following:

• Take some time to research the signs, symptoms, and effects of depression. By reading about the disease and its impact, you’ll be better equipped to understand what your loved one is going through.
• Look for depression treatment centers in your loved one’s area, and find out more about the types of programming they offer. Be on the lookout for any services that you feel would be a good fit for your loved one.
• As you prepare to have a conversation with your loved one to share what you’ve learned, be ready for some initial resistance to the idea of seeking treatment. Throughout the conversation, listen to what your loved one has to say as they describe their concerns, and maintain a calm, accepting tone.
• When your loved one decides to pursue treatment, offer to help with any practical concerns that might make it easier for your loved one to be away from home. This can include childcare, transportation, pet care, or any other task that would assist your loved one.
• Remind your loved one that you will be there for them before, during, and after treatment. Their recovery is a lifelong process, so let them know that you will continue to be there to offer support.

Throughout this time, make your own well-being a priority, and be sure to take time to do activities that rejuvenate you. In taking good care of yourself, you’ll have the strength and stamina you need to continue offering heartfelt support to your loved one.

Why you should consider getting treatment for depression at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital

Left untreated, symptoms of depression will continue to take a damaging toll on your mental, physical, and emotional health. Like other progressive mental illnesses, depression often gets worse over time, further eroding your well-being. Your depression might make it difficult to work, to go to school, to fulfill the responsibilities of daily living, and to maintain important relationships. You might begin to struggle with chronic fatigue, weight loss, or weight gain, have difficulty concentrating, or experience other symptoms that will impact your mental and physical health.

But fortunately, all of these painful symptoms of depression can be managed through a comprehensive treatment program. At Erlanger, we are pleased to offer an individualized treatment experience that features a combination of scientifically backed treatment modalities and compassionate care.

Learn about therapies used in the treatment of depression at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital

Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital is a state-of-the-art, inpatient mental health and addiction treatment facility. Our high-end treatment center serves multiple cities and states, including Tennessee, North Georgia, and Alabama, offering acute care for patients who need crisis stabilization in a safe and secure setting.

Surrounded by trees, fields, and seasonal flora and fauna, our hospital provides a welcoming respite for patients to begin healing from depression. Comfortable care rooms, courtyard areas for relaxation, and a large gymnasium for exercise and recreation offer a well-rounded treatment experience.

At Erlanger, patients receive the most innovative approach to depression treatment, with programming that is customized to meet their individual needs.

At Erlanger, our mission is to deliver excellence in the treatment of depression, and to improve the quality of life for those who are affected by its symptoms. We strive to deliver compassionate, effective care that empowers our patients on their unique paths to healing from depression.

Our depression treatment center takes great pride in our ability to provide care in a manner that best meets the needs of our patients. One way that we do this is by offering four distinct programs that allow our patients to receive treatment for depression in a setting and amidst a population that is most reflective of their needs and stages of life.

These programs include an adult psychiatry program for patients age 18 and older, an older adult psychiatry program for patients age 65 and older, and a dual diagnosis program for adults age 18 and older. All programs offer a fully comprehensive approach to care, incorporating a variety of evidence-based therapeutic interventions into each patient’s treatment plan. When a patient receives care for depression at our treatment center, they have access to the following:

Medical care: If a patient has a chronic, but stable, medical condition in addition to depression, we are able to offer the additional attention they need. Doctors, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses provide medical care for those patients who require these services. Patients have the ability to meet with our medical staff daily.

Medication management: Medication is often a beneficial component in treating depression. The use of medication, however, is always determined on a case-by-case basis. For those patients who will benefit from medication, our depression treatment center has psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses who provide medication management services. Patients can expect to meet with a psychiatrist daily.

Detoxification: For patients who are struggling with addiction concerns in addition to depression symptoms, we offer nonmedical detoxification services on-site. Detox at our treatment center typically lasts between three and seven days. During this time, patients are also able to participate in therapeutic programming so that all of their needs are being met simultaneously. Medication-assisted treatment is also available as part of our detox services, including the use of Suboxone and Subutex. Each patient will work with their treatment team to determine whether to use these medications during detox.

Individual therapy: Licensed social workers and counselors provide confidential one-on-one individual therapy sessions for patients who are struggling with depression. These sessions offer patients the opportunity to discuss their concerns, process their experiences in treatment, and celebrate successes as they begin recovering from depression. The frequency of individual therapy sessions at our depression treatment center is determined throughout the patient’s treatment planning process.

Group therapy: Group therapy is an important part of the healing process at our depression treatment center. Our highly qualified staff members, including nurses, social workers, counselors, and activity therapists, lead several groups each day and encourage patients to actively support one another in treatment. There are a variety of groups offered, including the following:

• Recovery groups
• Community groups
• General processing groups
• Psychoeducational groups

Family therapy: When patients are struggling with depression, it can be extremely beneficial to include their family members in the treatment process. At our depression treatment center, licensed social workers and counselors lead family therapy sessions with patients and their loved ones. Not only does this give family members an opportunity to learn more about depression, what their loved one is going through, and ways that they can help, but it also provides them with a safe space to discuss how their loved one’s concerns have impacted them as well.

Continuing care options for depression treatment

Treatment does not simply end once your stay at Erlanger Behavioral Health Hospital is complete. From the time that you are admitted into our depression treatment center, your treatment team will begin creating your discharge plan, which will be updated as you progress through treatment. This plan may include referrals to step-down levels of care, information on community resources that are available to you, referrals to support groups, and anything else that your treatment team believes will help you remain successful in healing from depression.

If you believe that you or your loved one could benefit from the care provided at our depression treatment center, please do not hesitate to contact us today. Our knowledgeable, compassionate staff members are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any questions you may have, explain more about our programming, and get you started in the admissions process.