DEPRESSION COUNSELING

Do you ever feel like you’re a burden to others? Do you experience feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt?

Has it become harder to complete daily tasks (work, school, hygiene, etc.)? Do you find yourself withdrawing from others or avoiding social situations?

If any of these questions sound familiar to you, you may be suffering from depression.

Different Types of Depression

There is not just one type of depression. There are multiple types of depression that could greatly affect the way that you go about your daily life. Some of the different types of depression include:

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

This is a very common type of depression that most often occurs in the winter months. This is mainly a result of the sun going down earlier, so people are not able to receive the sunlight that is needed to feel happy. This type of depression typically goes away in the summer and spring. To combat seasonal depression, light therapy is recommended so that you are still getting the vitamin D that you need to feel happier.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

This is the type of depression that most people think of when they hear the word depression. This is when you live in a constant state of depression, with the symptoms of eating habits changes, loss of motivation, feeling of emptiness; among other symptoms. If you are experiencing these symptoms for two weeks consecutively, then your doctor may prescribe you with medication to help you navigate these difficult emotions.

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

This will occur in women after having a baby. It can last anywhere from weeks to months and can make it really difficult to care for the baby. 1 in every 10 women get PPD after childbirth. Typically, this can be treated through counseling and medication.

Symptoms of Depression

There are many different symptoms of depression or ways that it manifests itself. It is important to be able to recognize the symptoms in yourself or others so that you can get the help that you deserve. Some of the most common signs of depression include:

Loss of Interest in Hobbies

One of the most common signs of depression is when there is a loss of interest in things that once used to be the hobbies or passions of the affected person. This is one of the key symptoms of someone who is depressed. It affects the day-to-day life of those affected and is often caused by the lack of everything not seeming to be fun. This is caused by the pleasure sensors in your brain being either shut down or shorted out. If this is something that has happened in your life then you may want to seek help.

Changes in Eating Habits

Another sign of depression would include a drastic change in eating habits. Each person reacts to depression differently so these changes will not look the same in every case of depression. Sometimes these changes will include overeating regularly and will result in a substantial amount of weight gain. Conversely, changes could also include undereating which would result in the loss of weight, decreased energy, and loss of strength. Both of these changes could dramatically hurt your physical health, so it is important to watch out for these symptoms of depression.

Crankiness or Irritability

Not only will there potentially be changes in the eating habits of someone who is suffering from depression; there are also mood changes. One of the common signs of depression would be an increase of crankiness or irritability. People who once were patient will become short and angry at slight inconveniences. This is a really common sign that there is something that is off with your loved one, and an indicator that they may be dealing with depression.

Feelings of Sadness, Hopelessness, or Anxiousness

If you or your loved one has been experiencing prolonged feelings of sadness, then this may be a sign they are suffering from depression. When a person is depressed, they start to believe that there is nothing good left. This can often leave people with a profound feeling of emptiness. This feeling of emptiness makes it difficult to go about your daily life and will leave you struggling to function. 

How Can Counseling Help Depression?

If you are needing a depression counselor, contact us today! We look forward to working with you. We have seen many of our clients go on to lead successful lives as they learn strategies to cope with their depression. We want to help you lead a fulfilling life. Come and sit with us for a while, so that you can have just that.