We understand you may be hurting. You may feel alone, suffering under an unbearable sense of grief, sadness, hopelessness, or isolation. But you are not alone.
Living with depression — or watching someone struggle with it — can feel isolating and hard to put into words. Depressive disorders are among the most common mental health conditions, and they’re also among the most treatable. With the right care, most people who live with depression get better.
Clearview is one of the few residential programs in the country built around comprehensive dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) — a proven, skills-based approach to managing the intense emotions that often come with depression.
At its residential programs in the Los Angeles area, Clearview treats adults of all gender identities and sexual orientations living with depressive disorders, including those who are also managing a co-occurring substance use disorder.
What Are Depressive Disorders?
Depressive disorders are more than sadness or a low mood that passes. While everyone feels down from time to time, depression is different: the low mood is more intense, lasts longer, and doesn’t lift on its own. It involves persistent feelings of hopelessness, emptiness, or loss of interest that continue for weeks or longer and interfere with daily life — work, school, relationships, and the ability to enjoy things that once brought joy. Depression affects each person differently, and it’s a real medical condition — not a personal weakness or something an individual can simply will away.
There are several types of depressive disorders. Clearview treats the major forms that affect adults, including:
- Major depressive disorder (MDD) – Also called clinical depression, MDD involves severe symptoms that affect how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities. Symptoms are present most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.
- Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) – Also called dysthymia, PDD is a milder but longer-lasting form of depression that continues for two years or more. A person with PDD may also experience episodes of major depression.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) – A severe form of premenstrual difficulty that goes well beyond typical PMS, causing significant mood changes, irritability, and depression in the days before menstruation.
- Depression with a seasonal pattern – Often called seasonal affective disorder, this is depression that comes and goes with the seasons, most often beginning in the fall and winter months.
- Substance-induced depressive disorder – Depression brought on by the use of, or withdrawal from, alcohol, drugs, or certain medications — a pattern often seen alongside a substance use disorder.
- Depressive disorder due to another medical condition – Depression that arises as a direct result of a separate medical illness, such as a thyroid condition or chronic disease.
Signs of Depression to Watch For
Depression can be hard to recognize — in yourself or in someone you love — in part because many individuals work hard to hide it. The signs generally fall into two groups: emotional changes, such as ongoing sadness or loss of interest, and physical changes, such as fatigue or shifts in sleep and appetite. Common signs include:
- Withdrawing from family, friends, and activities they used to enjoy
- Ongoing sadness, irritability, or a sense of emptiness
- Fatigue, low energy, or trouble getting through ordinary tasks
- Changes in sleep — sleeping far more or far less than usual
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Physical complaints such as headaches, body aches, or stomach problems with no clear cause
- Expressions of worthlessness, guilt, or hopelessness
Depression doesn’t look the same in everyone. In some people — particularly men and older adults — it may show up less as visible sadness and more as anger, irritability, physical complaints, or withdrawal, which can make it easy to miss or mistake for something else. Trusting your sense that something has changed is often more reliable than waiting for someone to say the word “depressed.”
When to seek help right away: If someone you love talks about death or suicide, gives away belongings, or seems to be saying goodbye, treat it as urgent. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is available 24/7. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Help Is Here When You're Ready
Clearview’s admissions team can answer your questions and help you find the right care, whether for yourself or for someone you love.
How Depressive Disorders Are Treated
Depression is highly treatable, and treatment works best when it’s matched to the individual. Effective care usually begins with a thorough clinical evaluation to understand the person’s history, symptoms, and any co-occurring conditions. From there, a treatment plan may combine several evidence-based approaches:
- Individual therapy – Often using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). CBT helps a person recognize and change the thought patterns that feed depression, while DBT adds skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, and staying steady during difficult moments — skills that are especially helpful when depression is severe or occurs alongside other conditions.
- Group therapy – Reduces isolation and builds practical coping skills alongside others who understand what a person is going through.
- Medication – Such as antidepressants, when appropriate and overseen by a psychiatrist.
- Skill-building – In areas like mindfulness, sleep, and daily structure that support recovery.
The right level of care depends on how much depression is affecting a person’s daily life and safety. For many people living with severe or persistent depression, a residential setting offers the structure, round-the-clock support, and focused environment that make it easier to stabilize and start building skills that last.
Treatment for depression requires comprehensive care, an active client-clinician connection, and ongoing support. During our depression residential treatment and outpatient treatment programs, Clearview’s expert staff ensures that clients receive the individualized support needed to have the best chance at sustaining long-term recovery.
Additionally, depression often co-occurs with drug and alcohol addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction along with depression, our specialized dual diagnosis treatment program will address both disorders.
If you or a loved one is struggling, take that first step today to regaining control of your self-identity and breaking the cycle of depression.
Treatment for Depressive Disorders at Clearview
Clearview treats depressive disorders in its residential programs in the Los Angeles area, matching each client to the program and approach that fit their needs. Care is grounded in evidence-based therapies — with deep clinical expertise in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — delivered by a team experienced in treating complex and co-occurring conditions.
Depending on a client’s needs, treatment for depression may be provided through one of Clearview’s three residential programs in the Los Angeles area:
- Gender-inclusive mental health – A residential program for adults of all gender identities living with acute mental health conditions, including depression, in a home-like environment with private rooms.
- Women's mental health – A nationally recognized residential program for women and people of diverse gender identities, built around DBT, for those managing conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD) and emotional dysregulation that often occur alongside depression.
- Addiction with co-occurring mental health – A residential program for adults living with a substance use disorder alongside depression or another mental health condition, with specialized care for dual diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions About Depression
Yes. Depression is one of the most treatable mental health conditions, and most people who receive care see meaningful improvement. Treatment usually combines therapy — such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) — with skill-building and, when appropriate, medication.
The right approach depends on the type and severity of depression and whether other conditions are present. Recovery takes time, but with consistent, evidence-based care, people living with depression can and do get better.
If someone you love has felt sad, hopeless, or withdrawn for more than two weeks, or if their depression is affecting their work, relationships, or daily functioning, it may be time to seek professional help. Other signs include changes in sleep or appetite, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty concentrating.
A clinical evaluation can determine whether treatment is needed and what level of care would help most. If your loved one is talking about suicide or self-harm, seek help immediately by calling or texting 988.
Depression doesn’t have a single cause. It usually results from a combination of factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, medical conditions, and life experiences such as loss, trauma, or ongoing stress. Because the causes vary from person to person, effective treatment starts with understanding each individual’s history and circumstances. Importantly, depression is a medical condition — not a character flaw or something a person can simply overcome through willpower.
The most helpful things you can do are often simple: listen without judgment, take their feelings seriously, and encourage them to seek professional care. Avoid telling them to “snap out of it,” since depression is a medical condition, not a choice. Offer practical support, such as helping them research treatment options or attending an appointment with them. Take any mention of suicide seriously and seek help right away. Caring for someone with depression can be draining, so it’s also important to look after yourself and set healthy limits.
It depends on the type of depression and whether a person receives treatment. An episode of major depression can last for months, and without care, symptoms often return or worsen over time. Persistent depressive disorder, by definition, lasts two years or longer.
The encouraging news is that treatment can shorten how long depression lasts and reduce how often it comes back. With evidence-based therapy and the right support, many people see meaningful improvement and go on to manage their symptoms long-term.
Clearview treats the major depressive disorders that affect adults, including major depressive disorder (MDD), persistent depressive disorder (PDD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), depression with a seasonal pattern, and depression related to substance use or another medical condition.
Clearview also treats depression that occurs alongside other conditions such as substance use disorders, trauma, and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Care is available through Clearview’s residential programs in the Los Angeles area, with treatment matched to each client’s needs.