Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional mental health and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.
There are many forms of depression, and it can occur at any age. It’s also one of the most common mental health disorders. Depression often starts in the teens or early 20s, but it can happen at any age. In the United States, about 3 percent of adults have depression in any given year, and 1 in every 6 people will experience depression at some point in their life. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Many people with a mild form of depression may not even realize they are depressed. For some people, depression symptoms are so severe that it’s obvious something isn’t right. Depression doesn’t always involve crying or feeling obviously unhappy. Sometimes people with depression may not feel sad at all—they may instead complain about fatigue, insomnia, or aches and pains that don’t improve even with treatment or may seem to lack self-esteem. Depression can cause physical problems such as headaches, chest pain, heart palpitations, and digestive problems that don’t respond to medical treatment. Asking for help when you’re depressed can be difficult—depression can make you feel hopeless, like nothing will ever get better. But seeking professional mental health help is an important first step to feeling better. If you’re unsure where to start, call today to find out how I can help.
What are the symptoms of depression?
Common symptoms of depression include persistent feelings of sadness, irritability, or anxiety; loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable; difficulty sleeping or concentrating; fatigue; changes in appetite, and sudden changes in self-esteem. While it is normal to experience some of these symptoms from time to time, someone who is experiencing them on a daily basis for two weeks or more may be suffering from depression. Depression can cause a person to withdraw from loved ones and become isolated, which can make the condition worse. If you think you or someone you know may be depressed, it is important to seek help from a qualified mental health professional. With treatment, most people with depression can find relief from their symptoms and go on to lead happy and fulfilling lives.
How do you treat depression?
Depression is a serious mental illness that can have a profound effect on every aspect of a person’s life. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, there are certain strategies that can be effective in managing depression. These include medication, therapy, and self-care. Medication can be an important part of treatment, however; it is often most effective to treat the underlying cause of the depression. Therapy can provide support and guidance as you work through the challenges of depression. It can also teach you healthy coping skills and ways to manage your thoughts, emotions and mental health. Finally, self-care is essential for managing depression. This includes making time for activities that make you happy, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and reaching out for help when needed. By taking these steps, you can begin to manage your depression and improve your quality of life.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a skills-based treatment that is effective in treating individuals who experience emotional dysregulation. Initially developed for individuals who suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder, but has been shown to be effective in many areas. DBT enhances dialectical thinking patterns by validating and accepting your issues while simultaneously helping you to change. The idea is that once you can accept uncomfortable and unhealthy thoughts and behaviors, instead of struggling against them, then change seems more possible. You learn to regulate emotions, tolerate distress, improve interpersonal relationships and develop acceptance skills.
DBT for Depression:
DBT emphasizes both validation and tolerance, which can be helpful for you if you are struggling with depression. DBT offers coping skills, such as emotional regulation and distress tolerance, which allows you to address depressive symptoms and ultimately break free from them.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the preferred techniques to treat depression and anxiety, but can also be effective in treating a variety of other issues. It is based on the idea that negative feelings are the result of distorted beliefs or thought patterns. Treatment focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Using a combination of behavioral and cognitive principles, this approach challenges unhelpful thinking and behavioral patterns to resolve current problems.
CBT for Depression:
At the foundation of CBT is the assumption that your depressed mood is related to your pattern of thinking. CBT helps you to recognize negative and dysfunctional thoughts, evaluate their validity and replace them with healthier ways of thinking in order to improve mood, behavior and sense of self.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Solution-Focused Therapy is a goal-directed collaborative approach that focuses on solutions rather than problems or past failures. Therapy is driven by your existing strengths, assuming that you already have the knowledge and tools to achieve a better life. Therapy helps you take small steps to achieve goals by focusing on the problem right now, finding exceptions and working towards the future in a goal-oriented way.
Solution-Focused Therapy for Depression:
One of the symptoms of depression is hopelessness. If you are struggling with depression, you may tend to ruminate about the past and feel hopeless about your future. Solution-focused therapy specifically targets this by helping you look ahead to a future free from depression, rather than focusing on the things in the past that caused your depression. Solution-focused therapy values solutions to improve your mood and help you develop new skills.