Are You Feeling Down, Depleted And Hopeless?

Do you feel swept along by life, unable to make decisions or get excited about events and activities that you once enjoyed or think you should enjoy? Are you always tired – regardless of how much sleep you get – and feel like your days are spent walking through a thick, gray fog? Perhaps you’re struggling in relationships and find it hard to connect with others – even those you love. Or, maybe you’re having difficulties being present and productive at work and fear that you’re one day away from losing your job. Are you constantly hard on yourself, wondering why you can never get it right? Do you feel powerless and scared and wonder if there is a way out? Do you wish that you knew how to break through the force field that keeps you from taking control of your life? Do you long to feel better and function with greater ease and joy?

Living with depression can be a heavy, lonely and self-defeating experience. Depression can make it hard to get out of bed and move into your day. Once up and in the world, you may struggle to complete tasks that others seem to manage with ease. As well as creating feelings of lethargy and despair, the symptoms of depression can manifest physically through aches and pains and impact eating and sleeping patterns, which can make you feel even worse. You may wonder why it’s so hard for you to connect with others or take care of yourself. Depression is an isolating experience. It’s not uncommon to feel afraid to talk with others about your experience – as you may fear that something is really wrong with you and that there is no way out.

Depression Is Extremely Common In Our Culture         

If you know or think that you may be depressed, you are not alone. Depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health issues in the U.S., affecting more than 19 million Americans each year. Although some people are more prone to clinical depression due to a genetic pre-disposition or the influence of a depressed parent or spouse, others experience situational depression following a loss, trauma, illness or major life transition. Depression affects everyone from children to the elderly, and symptoms manifest on a wide-spectrum.

You may struggle with low-level depression and experience a persistent sadness and lack of gusto for life. Or, your depression may have become so severe that you cannot get out of bed and have experienced suicidal thoughts – in which case you should seek immediate help (I recommend contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 800-273-8255). Regardless of the cause of your depression or how it’s manifesting, if you no longer enjoy things that you once did, have suffered a loss and cannot seem to bounce back or are experiencing feelings of helplessness or hopelessness, a skilled, experienced and compassionate depression therapist can help you find relief. While depression is one of the most common mental health issues, it’s also one of the most easily mitigated, managed and overcome.

Depression Treatment Can Help You Break Down Barriers And Move Out Of The Fog

In the confidential, nonjudgmental and safe space of depression counseling sessions, we can identify, explore and address your depression and its effects on your life. Sometimes, just developing a better understanding of your experience can provide relief, and we can develop temporary “band aid” strategies that can help you feel better right away. For instance, if you’re struggling in a relationship, questioning your abilities as a parent or fearing that you’ll lose your job, we can challenge negative thinking and develop strategies that can help to address the external factors that are causing you discomfort or pain. In sessions, we can explore your current experience and set manageable, yet effective goals. Oftentimes, by breaking down the “big picture,” identifying what it is that you really want out of life and putting those desires into practicable action, you can feel more in control of your life.

In depression therapy sessions, we can also explore any negative self-talk that is keeping you from moving forward. By reframing the way you think, it’s possible to shift the way you feel. You can work toward alleviating doubt and develop strategies to help you better connect with others. We can address physical symptoms, and find ways to improve your self-care through making lifestyle changes, such as diet, exercise, regular medical check-ups and healthy stress management tools.

For 20 years, I have been helping clients better understand their depression experience and develop goals and strategies to create change and feel better. With the help and support of an experienced, engaging and warm depression therapist, you can feel healthier and happier, too. You can better understand your experience as we collectively problem solve and begin making the gradual changes that can provide lasting relief.

Although you believe that you could benefit from depression counseling, you still may have questions or concerns…

Why therapy? Can’t I just take an anti-depressant?

Research shows that a combination of medication and therapy is the most effective form of depression treatment. Medications can often help to alleviate symptoms so you can feel better and function well enough to engage in therapy and other important aspects of your life, such as your relationships and career. That said, medications can cause uncomfortable side effects and become challenging to stop. Once off medication – having not undergone therapy – the same symptoms and problems often reveal themselves again. While there is a place for medication in the treatment of depression – and we can discuss it as an option – there are also many non-medication approaches that have also been proven highly effective in helping to mitigate, manage and overcome depression symptoms.

I’m worried that depression treatment will be expensive and require a lot of time.

I invite you to ask yourself how long you’ve been feeling bad and how depression has impacted your overall quality of life. Have you missed work? Do you feel disconnected from friends and family members? Are you self-medicating with drugs or alcohol or trying to cope with pain in other, unhealthy and potential damaging ways? Depression counseling can help you get your life back on track and feel better. It’s an investment in your future self. With help, you can begin connecting with others, become more productive at work and experience relief from depression. And, although the length of treatment varies, you don’t have to be in therapy forever – although my door will always be open if you want to come once a month or even once a year.

I’m worried that someone – personally or professionally – will find out that I’m in therapy and that I’ll be judged.

This is a common fear, however, I can assure you that our work together is confidential and no one needs to know that you’re in therapy unless you choose to share that. Also, most people who are in therapy are not getting help because they have a serious mental health disorder. Like you, they’re just normal people who want to operate better and improve their quality of life. When we’re healthy and happy, we are better employees, partners, parents and people. It’s not a sign of weakness or dysfunction to seek help for depression – it’s a sign of strength and wanting a better life for yourself and those around you.

You Can Feel Better And Function With More Ease

You don’t have to continue to battle depression on your own. I invite you to call me for a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your specific needs and to answer any questions you have about depression treatment and my practice.