You were given this life because you are STRONG ENOUGH to live it.
Has Depression Taken All of Your Energy and Motivation Away?
Does it seem like you’re going through the motions of life? Are you struggling with apathy, numbness, and lack of motivation? Do you feel like you’re just surviving instead of really living?
Maybe you’ve been spending more time alone and withdrawing from friends and family. As much as you want to have fun and engage in social activities, you probably have no energy to. Even small chores may seem like insurmountable tasks. Getting out of bed may seem impossible. Perhaps you’ve thought about seeing a depression therapist but worry that you’ll have no motivation to work through your struggles.
Depression Makes You Want To Curl Up And Put Off All Your Responsibilities
If you want to regain the energy to do what you love and start feeling like yourself again, we encourage you to connect with us. Here at Hillary Counseling, our goal is to help you improve your mood, get to the root of your depression, and feel happier about who you are.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
Roughly 280 million people suffer from depression and it’s the number one cause of disability in the world. Yet in many ways depression is silent and invisible—many people who struggle with it don’t seem depressed on the surface. They go out about their lives without anyone knowing how sad and empty they feel. This makes depression such a lonely experience.
People who are depressed report a variety of symptoms. Some signs of depression include:
- Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy.
- Sleeping much more or much less than you used to.
- A persistent feeling of sadness, despair, and emptiness.
- A decrease in energy.
- Difficulty concentrating and getting things done.
- Appetite or weight changes.
- Thoughts of death or suicide (if you are currently contemplating suicide, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255).
- Irritability.
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness.
- Teariness or more frequent crying.
- Body aches, headaches, and digestive problems.
- Anxiety.
If you have been feeling several of the above symptoms for over two weeks, you may have depression. Before assuming that you have depression, we recommend consulting with a depression therapist.
Note that there are different types of depression, as well:
- Major Depression. People who struggle with major depression display symptoms of depression (like the ones we’ve listed above) for at least two weeks.
- Persistent Depressive Disorder. Those with persistent depressive disorder have been struggling with symptoms of depression for two years or longer.
- Postpartum Depression. After birth, some women suffer from postpartum depression. In addition to the symptoms that we listed above, these women can also feel overwhelmed and experience mood swings.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Seasonal affective disorder typically occurs during the winter months since darker weather triggers SAD. The symptoms are the same, but SAD comes and goes with the seasons.
People experience and describe depression in different ways, but if any of this sounds like your experience, consult with a therapist or medical professional to discuss ways to feel better.
Therapy Can Give You A Toolbox Of Skills For Managing Depression
Therapy provides a framework for understanding your depression, tools for counteracting your symptoms, and a supportive relationship so that you don’t feel alone. Early sessions are usually very practical and focus on symptom relief and reduction. Once your symptoms have lessened, you and your counselor can begin exploring the root of your depression and looking at the habits in your life that reinforce it.
The long-term goal of therapy is to address and remove the obstacles in your way so that you can get back to healthy functioning. We want you to be able to manage your depression symptoms when you’re outside of sessions, allowing you to effectively be your own therapist.
Treatment Approaches for Depression:
There are many ways to treat depression. We take a holistic approach to depression treatment. So, we suggest treatments that address all parts of your life and emphasize an interconnectedness between mind, body, and wellness.
We are passionate about offering treatments based in research that are designed and found to be effective for depression. Treatment approaches for depression that we specialize in include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness and acceptance based therapies (ACT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), emotion focused therapy, and stress management.
We will help you learn how to identify negative patterns of thinking, feeling, and living to help you move toward a greater sense of peace and purpose.
You Don’t Have To Manage Depression Alone.
Depression thrives in isolation. By making the choice to talk to a therapist about your struggles, you’re giving yourself a chance to experience real healing and relief.
