Depression
Who It's For
Functional medicine support tailored to uncover the root cause of complex symptoms.
Consult with our care team to understand next steps and build a personalized plan.
Serving Denver Metro, Fort Collins, and Colorado Springs.
About This Condition
Depression refers to a group of mood disorders characterized by persistent low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, and associated emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms that impair daily functioning. Episodes can range from mild, situationally triggered symptoms to severe, recurrent major depressive episodes with prominent neurovegetative changes and suicidality.
Patients commonly describe feeling sad, empty, hopeless, or “numb,” with diminished ability to experience pleasure, reduced motivation, and withdrawal from usual activities and relationships. Sleep disturbance, appetite and weight changes, fatigue, slowed thinking or agitation, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt are frequent. Some individuals present primarily with somatic complaints such as pain, headaches, or gastrointestinal symptoms rather than clearly articulated low mood.
Depression often coexists with anxiety disorders, trauma-related conditions, substance use, and medical illnesses, and it is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and reduced quality of life. Diagnosis is based on clinical assessment and symptom duration and severity, with careful evaluation for bipolar spectrum disorders, psychotic features, and medical or substance-related contributors that can mimic or exacerbate depressive symptoms.
Common Symptoms
- •Persistent low mood, sadness, emptiness, or irritability
- •Marked loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyable
- •Fatigue, low energy, or feeling “slowed down” much of the time
- •Sleep disturbance, including difficulty falling asleep, early morning awakening, or oversleeping
- •Changes in appetite or weight, either increased or decreased
- •Difficulty concentrating, indecisiveness, or slowed thinking
- •Feelings of worthlessness, excessive guilt, or pervasive negative self-evaluation
- •Recurrent thoughts of death, passive wishes not to wake up, or suicidal ideation
Conventional Treatment Options
Lifestyle structure
Nutrition and movement
Sleep optimization
Our Functional Medicine Approach
Who It's For
Adults with low mood or diagnosed depression.
Expected Outcomes
- Improved mood support
- Better daily function