Depression Counseling

There are some estimates that every American experiences at least two bouts of depression at some point in their life. Most of these episodes are stress and loss related, and they tend to pass quite quickly without intervention. It’s when depression sticks around for weeks, months, and years that psychotherapy help is needed, and the sooner, the better.

Sometimes depression creeps up slowly and can be ignored until true misery and suffering sets in. Other times this disorder whacks us over the head like a tree limb falling from the sky.

Depression has biological, psychological, social, and cultural underpinnings and involves many causative interacting factors. Names for various types, related to cause, intensity, amount of disability, and symptomology are:

• Dysthymia
• Mood disorder
• Depressed mood
• Anxiety disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Manic-depressive disorder (same as bipolar disorder)
• Stress with depressed mood
• Delayed grief reaction
• Chronic depression
• Cyclothymic disorder
• Post-partum depression.

• Pervasive low mood
• Inability to experience pleasure in previously enjoyable activities
• Preoccupation with thoughts and feelings of worthlessness
• Inappropriate shame, guilt and regret
• Helplessness
• Boredom
• Anger and irritability
• Poor concentration
• Reduced sex drive
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Insomnia or oversleeping
• Increase or decrease of appetite and weight gain or loss
• Physical symptoms such as fatigue, chronic pain, digestive problems
• Psychotic symptoms with delusions in a severe episode
• Suicidal intent and actions: the desire to die
• Cognitive impairment in older people, sometimes leading to an incorrect diagnosis of some form of dementia
• Anxiety and worry

People can’t just ‘get over it’ as is sometimes suggested by others or believed by the depressive person. Help is needed and available for recovery. Often the best form of help in a serious, life disabling episode is the combination of psychotherapy and anti-depressant medication. In milder forms, research has shown that psychotherapy alone is very effective in bringing long term symptom relief as well as new found well being. Even in what looks like a ‘milder’ bout, the suffering is serious and real; people can’t just ‘get over it’. Many high functioning successful people are able to hide their suffering from the world (even their families), and bravely carry on, often ashamed of their sad, angry and disturbing feelings. There can be a fear of letting people down or looking weak by demonstrating depressive symptoms.

Psychotherapy works. It helps people overcome depression and develop well-being with resilience and confidence in their ability to manage future life challenges.