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Help with depression
Are you experiencing persistent negative thoughts, low mood or depression? At U-center, we work with you to explore the underlying causes and offer a short, intensive treatment program tailored to your needs.
Everyone experiences depression differently. If your mood symptoms persist for more than two weeks, it may indicate a depressive disorder and help is important and recommended.
Recognize
Symptoms of depression
Everyone feels down or gloomy from time to time. Usually these feelings pass on their own. However, if your symptoms persist for more than two weeks, you may have a depressive disorder. The symptoms vary from person to person, but if they persist, it is important to seek help. Recognizing depression is not always easy, but there are certain signs that may indicate it.
Here are the most common symptoms:
Symptoms:
• Depressed or gloomy mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Insomnia or sleeping too much
• Restlessness or inertia
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
• Change in weight (decrease or increase)
expert in multiple diagnosis
We treat multiple disorders parallel
Short and intensive treatment
Quickly make a U-turn in your life
Recovery in a natural environment
Working on body and mind
Recognize
Understanding depression
Together with your treatment team you will explore the causes and patterns behind your complaints. This will give you insight and practical tools to make real change. In a way that suits you.
Types of depression
Depression is not the same for everyone. Where one person mainly withdraws and feels gloomy, another experiences irritability, anxiety or physical symptoms.
In addition to how symptoms manifest themselves, we also distinguish between different types of depression. Each type has its own characteristics, duration and impact on daily life.
If the depressive symptoms keep recurring we speak of recurrent depression.
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness. You can recognize the disorder by the alternation of extremely gloomy or just manic episodes. Bipolar disorder is also called manic-depressive disorder.
This type of depressive disorder bears the name ‘chronic depression’ because it implies that those suffering from it experience symptoms for longer periods of time. When you’ve been experiencing depression symptoms for two years or longer, that could indicate that you have chronic depression. Your symptoms would include feelings of sadness and a lack of energy and/or fun in life. You could also have feelings of hopelessness, a disrupted sleep pattern or an abnormal appetite.
Chronic depressions can be light or heavy. The latter implies that you are troubled heavily by your complaints associated with depression during the entire period you suffer from chronic depression. When your chronic depression is more on the lighter end of the spectrum, it’s possible that your complaints are sometimes less noticeable - even though you still feel depressed most of the time.
If you are suffering from chronic depression, you’re at risk of developing other disorders. In addition, the chances of relapsing are bigger than they are for those suffering from ‘normal’ depression. This is where U-center can help you. We don’t just think about the time you’ll be spending with us: we also focus on getting you back to normal life and we aim to minimise the odds of you relapsing.
When a person suffers from depressive symptoms in the same season every year, we speak of seasonal depression. For most people this manifests as winter depression, but autumn depression, summer depression or spring depression are also possible.
Some women suffer a gloomy mood for months after giving birth. If the mood complaints persist we speak of postpartum depression or postpartum depression.
Our approach
How do we treat depression?
At U-center, we look beyond your symptoms. We tailor treatment to who you are, with the goal of taking steps toward recovery from within yourself.
Our approach is based on scientifically based methods. The basis consists of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), possibly supported with medication. We also work with body-oriented therapies, expressive work forms, lifestyle interventions and conversation therapies. Individually or in groups, but it can also be done together with your partner or loved ones, if you wish.
A permanent treatment team guides you through the process. Together you work on structure, activation and strengthening your mental and physical resilience.
Our approach is intensive, personalized and focused on sustainable recovery.
At every stage of treatment, e-health is an integral part of your treatment journey.
Our story
An integrated
An integrated
approach to depression
Often more problems are linked to depression. Anxiety, addiction or trauma may play a role at the same time. That's why U-center looks beyond the depression. We take into account everything that affects your life; from your personality and relationships to work, lifestyle and health.
Together with your treatment team you will explore the causes and patterns behind your complaints. This will give you insight and practical tools to make real change. In a way that suits you.
You gain understanding and tools to truly change your life. In a way that feels right for for you, resonates with you and in which you feel safe and secure.
Therapy
Therapy
Good treatment starts with really understanding what's going on. That's why at U-center we always start with an extensive intake. We take the time to explore with you what exactly is going on, where your symptoms are coming from, what is influencing them and what is getting in the way of you feeling better. We pay attention to underlying issues, from your life history and environment to your current mental and physical health.
Depending on your situation, we deploy different forms of therapy and create a treatment plan that really suits you.
When treating your depression, we always offer psychoeducation. In this way, you will learn exactly what your depression is, how it started and what is affecting your mood symptoms at the time. We also ensure a good rhythm in your day by eating and sleeping at set times. For example, your treatments start at the same time every day and the internet in the treatment center goes out in the evening to encourage healthy regularity.
During this therapy, you will learn to deal with certain situations differently through exercises. We discuss and treat the behaviors that maintain your depression in this cognitive behavioral therapy. The therapy focuses on looking closely at your symptoms or problems and turning this into constructive thoughts and actions.
Schematherapy helps you break through existing patterns of behavior. By gaining insight into your depressive disorder, you learn to understand and change the origins of these patterns. During schema therapy, we work with your behaviors, thoughts and feelings so that you learn to better recognize your own needs and take better care of yourself.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you start an application, you naturally have a number of questions. Is your question not yet answered? If so, please contact our Communications Center.
At U-center, we can treat many mental health conditions. In particular, we specialize in treating multiple diagnoses at the same time (comorbidity). Yet even we cannot help everyone. See our terms & criteria page for more information.
As a friend or family member of someone with depression, there are several things you can do to help. In the case of an acute situation, such as endangering one's life and wanting to commit suicide, it is necessary to contact the family doctor or crisis service immediately.
At U-center, you can get treatment quickly. You can register online without any obligation. We strive to process your application or contact request within two business days.
Depending on where you live your insurance may cover your treatment. If you have a Dutch insurance you will have to pay a contribution for additional activities and services. Consult the cost& insurance page for more information about your situation of contact our Communication Center.
Our clinic is equipped with all the necessary facilities and also offers a number of additional amenities. For more information, see our facilities page.