While everyone gets the occasional blues, sometimes sadness can become so overwhelming that it disrupts our lives - our work, relationships, and personal well-being begin to suffer. Although you may feel alone, depression affects roughly 10 percent of the population. It's more common in women; however, depression knows no boundaries, and affects people from all walks of life. There is no shame in having depression; it's actually one of the most common and treatable conditions!
What Does Depression Look Like?
Depression is much more than intense sadness. Here are some common symptoms. Do any resonate with you?
- Feelings of sadness or depressed mood (in kids and teens, this could be more anger and irritability)
- Appetite changes (e.g., overeating or poor appetite)
- Significant weight gain or loss
- Loss of interest in things you once found pleasurable
- Difficulty sleeping (e.g., sleeping too much or too little)
- Fatigue or low energy
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or extreme guilt
- Low or poor self-esteem
- Agitated or slow movement
- Thoughts of death, dying, or suicide
Causes of Depression
Depression is usually caused by a variety of factors, and it’s important to realize that you did not cause it. Depression is not a character flaw or a weakness. Let’s take a look at some of the possible causes of depression:
- Genetics or family history
- Hormonal changes
- Brain chemistry
- Stress
- Grief and loss
- Difficult life events or challenges
- Certain medical conditions or medications
- Trauma (e.g., physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; traumatic brain injury; domestic violence; childhood neglect, etc.)
- Substance use or abuse
Treatment for Depression
From counseling to medications, there are a variety of treatments for depression. Here at Deepwater Counseling, we have a very holistic approach and focus on two main levels: the underlying causes of your depression and symptom relief. For example, if we determine that your depression has been caused by a past trauma, we will help you work through those feelings in a safe and supportive environment. But we do more than just listen – we’ll also explore evidence-based strategies to help to start to relieve your symptoms, such as:
- Learning how sleep, exercise, and nutrition can affect your mood
- Managing your symptoms by challenging negative thinking patterns and adopting healthy thinking styles
- Adopting or changing certain behaviors to help relieve symptoms
- Incorporating self-care and stress management strategies into your daily life
- Developing healthy coping skills and tools
- Improving self-esteem and confidence
- Providing medical referrals for medication (if needed) and monitoring your progress
You Are Not Alone
If you feel like you may be suffering from depression or any of its symptoms, please know that you don’t have to struggle alone. Whether it’s seasonal blues, sadness you just can’t seem to shake, or clinical depression, let us help you live the life that you deserve. Contact Us Here to learn more or to set up an appointment.