Therapy for Depression and Other Mood Disorders
- Do you struggle with feelings of sadness or irritability?
- Do you have crying spells, sometimes for no reason?
- Do you sometimes have feelings of worthlessness and/or guilt?
- Do you feel helpless, like you don’t have control in your life?
- Do you feel hopeless and defeated, like life won’t get better for you?
- Do you struggle to get motivated?
- Do you get easily fatigued?
- Are you struggling to concentrate?
- Are you finding a diminished interest in activities you once found enjoyable?
- Do you have problems with your sleep?
- Do you have problems with your appetite?
- Do you have thoughts of wanting to hurt yourself or wishes that you would die?
All of us feel sad from time to time. It can be difficult to admit our sad feelings to ourselves, let alone others, and we often use language like “suck it up” or “get over it” to try and make our sadness go away. Sometimes sadness is brought on by specific events, while other times these feelings emerge for seemingly no reason at all. Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, and hopelessness, increased irritability, forgetfulness and poor concentration, crying spells, insomnia, loss of appetite, and low energy and motivation are just some of the ways depression can impact us. Additionally, depression can contribute to relationship problems or difficulties at work or school. Depression can also lead to behaviors that are intended to relieve our symptoms but can create their own problems, including alcohol and drug use as well as other addictive behaviors.
Depression affects at least one in six of us during the course of our lives. Having someone to whom you can talk as well as learning ways to manage your mood can go a long way towards improving how you feel and improving the quality of your life.
What is therapy for depression like?
No two people experience depression the same. Your therapy will be tailored to your specific symptoms and circumstances so that you are getting highly individualized care. In general, however, therapy may focus on what your specific experience of depression is, helping you recognize the signs and symptoms of your depression, and teaching you ways to manage and even prevent troubled moods.
Benefits of therapy for depression
- Understand the root causes/contributors of your depression
- Learn to identify your depression by gaining awareness of what you experience physically, emotionally, and mentally when depressed
- Identify triggers to your depression
- Develop coping skills to manage your depression
- Enjoy an improved mood and more positive relationships