Depression Treatment in Gurugram — Dr. Prerna Kohli

Sadness is a normal emotional response to difficult events and typically lifts with time. Depression is characterised by persistent low mood lasting more than two weeks, loss of interest in activities you previously enjoyed, and physical symptoms such as sleep and appetite changes. If these symptoms are affecting your ability to function at work, in relationships, or in daily life, it is worth speaking to a professional.

Depression often feels less like sadness and more like emptiness, heaviness, or numbness — a loss of interest, energy, and hope that colours everything, even things you used to enjoy. Many people describe moving through life behind glass, or struggling to feel much at all. It varies from person to person, which is why a proper assessment matters. If this sounds familiar, you don't have to manage it alone.

Depression usually arises from a combination of factors rather than a single cause — genetics and temperament, life stress and loss, relationship or financial strain, health conditions, and long-standing thinking patterns can all contribute. Understanding what's sustaining it in your particular case is a central part of treatment. It is not a character flaw or a sign of weakness.

Take it seriously as a reason to get assessed, not as the assessment. A chatbot matches your words against patterns in text; it cannot weigh how long this has lasted, how it is affecting your functioning, your history, or physical causes such as thyroid problems, anaemia or vitamin deficiency that produce identical symptoms. It also cannot distinguish depression from grief, burnout, an anxiety disorder, or the depressed phase of bipolar disorder — distinctions that change the treatment entirely. More on this in what an AI can and cannot tell you about your own mind.

Yes. Depression frequently shows up in the body — disrupted sleep, fatigue, appetite changes, headaches, digestive issues, and unexplained aches — and these physical symptoms are real, not "in your head." Treating the depression often eases them; where a medical cause is possible, Dr. Kohli will suggest it's checked alongside.

Sleep and mood are closely linked — poor or disrupted sleep can deepen depression, and depression in turn disrupts sleep, creating a cycle. Addressing both together usually works better than tackling either alone. Persistent sleep problems are worth raising in an assessment.

Mild low mood sometimes lifts with time, rest, and support. But depression that persists for weeks, deepens, or disrupts daily life usually benefits from professional help rather than waiting it out — effective treatment can shorten the episode and reduce the chance of it returning. If you're unsure, an assessment is a low-pressure way to find out where you stand.

It varies widely — an episode can last weeks or months, and for some people it becomes longer-term without support. Treatment often shortens the course and eases the intensity along the way. Dr. Kohli will give you a realistic sense of timelines after an initial assessment.

Depression is most often treated with psychological therapy, sometimes alongside medication for moderate-to-severe presentations. Evidence-based talk therapies such as cognitive-behavioural therapy help you understand and shift the patterns sustaining the depression and rebuild engagement with life. Dr. Kohli tailors the approach to your situation, and works alongside a psychiatrist where medication is needed.

Yes — for many people, especially those with mild to moderate depression, psychological therapy alone produces significant and lasting improvement. Clinical guidelines from the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommend cognitive-behavioural therapy as a first-line treatment for depression, either on its own or alongside medication.

No. As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Kohli does not prescribe medication; her approach focuses on psychological therapy. Where medication is clinically indicated, she will refer you to a qualified psychiatrist and can work collaboratively alongside them.

It can, particularly if treatment stops early or the underlying patterns aren't addressed — but the risk is much lower when therapy helps you understand your triggers and build lasting coping strategies. NICE recommends cognitive-behavioural therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy specifically for relapse prevention, to reduce the chance of depression returning. Part of Dr. Kohli's work is helping you stay well, not just feel better for now.

Yes. The isolation, cultural dislocation, and family pressure of living abroad can trigger or deepen depression, often without an obvious cause. Dr. Kohli has particular experience supporting NRIs and the Indian diaspora through this — explored in Anxiety & Depression from Migration Stress.

This varies significantly depending on the severity and duration of the depression, and your individual circumstances. Some clients experience meaningful improvement within 6–8 sessions; others benefit from longer-term support. Dr. Kohli will discuss a realistic plan after your initial consultation.

Yes. Dr. Kohli regularly works with NRI clients and the Indian diaspora experiencing depression abroad. Sessions are conducted via video call at flexible timings for clients in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, the Gulf, and elsewhere.

It's worth seeking help when low mood lasts more than two weeks, deepens, or starts affecting your work, relationships, or daily functioning — you don't need to wait until things feel unbearable. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself or that life isn't worth living, please treat that as a reason to reach out straight away: contact a crisis helpline in your area or your local emergency services. Reaching out early is a strength, not a failure.