What Is Depression?
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in America. People struggling with depression may move through their days feeling a sense of apathy and disconnection. Their sleep and appetite often suffer. They may struggle in their relationships or their work. Overall, things might seem meaningless people want to feel more satisfied and happy in their lives, but they may feel so depleted of energy that this level of fulfillment seems impossible.
The fatigue and concentration problems associated with depression can make ordinary tasks feel exhausting. People may find it difficult to get out of bed or take a shower. Severe depression can result in self-injury, suicidal thoughts, problematic substance use or other compulsive behaviors, and major relationship issues. Sometimes, depression or sadness has an apparent root cause. Other times, it’s not obvious, and symptoms seemingly strike at any time.
What Causes Depression?
Research shows that a combination of biological and environmental factors may contribute to depression. Depressed symptoms can emerge at any time in one’s life, and they may not always be easy to detect.
No one chooses to be depressed. The myth that one can just ‘snap out of it’ or focus on being happy often doesn’t work. That is because depression is a chronic medical condition that usually requires changing thought patterns and implementing new coping strategies. Therapy targets learning new ways of identifying, managing, and recovering from depression symptoms.
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How I Can Help You With Depression
Therapy provides you with a safe and compassionate space to explore the depression or sadness that you experience. We will address developing self-care strategies, changing negative self-talk, strengthening relationships, identifying and treating distressing experiences and reducing or eliminating triggers in your daily life. We will also address any sabotaging behaviors that keep you stuck in a depression cycle. If you’re struggling with thoughts related to self-harm or suicide, we’ll also work on creating a sustainable plan to keep you safe.