Depression

Depression is a serious illness, not a harmless part of life.  It is a complex disorder with a variety of causes.  It is never caused by just one thing.  It may be the result of a mix of factors, including genetic, chemical, physical , and sociological.  It is also influenced by behavior patterns learned in the family and by cognitive distortions.  Depression affects millions of people in this country.  It is always troubling, and for some people it can be disabling.  Depression is more than just sadness or the blues.  IT can have an impact on nearly every aspect of a person’s life.  People who suffer from depression may experience despair and worthlessness, and this can have an enormous impact on both personal and professional relationships.   When a person suffers from depression, it can affect every part of his or her life, including one’s physical body, one’s behavior, thought processes, mood, ability to relate to others, and general lifestyle.

Psychotherapy is a very effective way of treating depression.  Individual psychotherapy  is exploring one’s beliefs and ways of thinking, and learning new way of thinking and behaving, with the guidance of professional .  One of the methods that I find very successful in treating depression in cognitive therapy in which I will help clients feel better by identifying how faulty ways of thinking are making him or her feel bad.  They learn to analyze their thoughts and beliefs, and learn to substitute more healthy ways of thinking and believing.

Are you depressed?

Feeling down from time to time is a normal part of life. But when emptiness and despair take hold and won't go away, it may be depression. More than just the temporary "blues," the lows of depression make it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did. Hobbies and friends don’t interest you like they used to; you’re exhausted all the time; and just getting through the day can be overwhelming. When you’re depressed, things may feel hopeless, but with help and support you can get better. But first, you need to understand depression. Learning about depression—including its signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment—is the first step to overcoming the problem.

Depression drains your energy, hope, and drive, making it difficult to do what you need to feel better. But while overcoming depression isn’t quick or easy, it’s far from impossible. You can’t beat it through sheer willpower, but you do have some control—even if your depression is severe and stubbornly persistent. The key to depression recovery is to start small and build from there. Feeling better takes time, but you can get there if you make positive choices for yourself each day and draw on the support of others.

If you identify with several of the following signs and symptoms, and they just won’t go away, you may be suffering from clinical depression.

• you can’t sleep or you sleep too much
• you can’t concentrate or find that previously easy tasks are now difficult
• you feel hopeless and helpless
• you can’t control your negative thoughts, no matter how much you try
• you have lost your appetite or you can’t stop eating
• you are much more irritable and short-tempered than usual
• you have thoughts that life is not worth living (Seek help immediately if this is the case)

The faces of depression

Depression often looks different in men and women, and in young people and older adults. An awareness of these differences helps ensure that the problem is recognized and treated.

Depression in men

Depression is a loaded word in our culture. Many associate it, however wrongly, with a sign of weakness and excessive emotion. This is especially true with men. Depressed men are less likely than women to acknowledge feelings of self-loathing and hopelessness. Instead, they tend to complain about fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, and loss of interest in work and hobbies. Other signs and symptoms of depression in men include anger, aggression, violence, reckless behavior, and substance abuse. Even though depression rates for women are twice as high as those in men, men are a higher suicide risk, especially older men.

Depression in women

Rates of depression in women are twice as high as they are in men. This is due in part to hormonal factors, particularly when it comes to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphonic disorder (PMDD), postpartum depression, and premenopausal depression. As for signs and symptoms, women are more likely than men to experience pronounced feelings of guilt, sleep excessively, overeat, and gain weight. Women are also more likely to suffer from seasonal affective disorder.

Depression in teens

While some depressed teens appear sad, others do not. In fact, irritability—rather than depression—is frequently the predominant symptom in depressed adolescents and teens. A depressed teenager may be hostile, grumpy, or easily lose his or her temper. Unexplained aches and pains are also common symptoms of depression in young people.
Left untreated, teen depression can lead to problems at home and school, drug abuse, self-loathing—even irreversible tragedy such as homicidal violence or suicide. But with help, teenage depression is highly treatable.

Understanding teen depression

There are as many misconceptions about teen depression as there are about teenagers in general. Yes, the teen years are tough, but most teens balance the requisite angst with good friendships, success in school or outside activities, and the development of a strong sense of self.  Occasional bad moods or acting out is to be expected, but depression is something different. Depression can destroy the very essence of a teenager’s personality, causing an overwhelming sense of sadness, despair, or anger.

Unlike adults, who have the ability to seek assistance on their own, teenagers usually must rely on parents, teachers, or other caregivers to recognize their suffering and get them the treatment they need. So if you have an adolescent in your life, it’s important to learn what teen depression looks like and what to do if you spot the warning signs.

Signs and symptoms of teen depression

Teenagers face a host of pressures, from the changes of puberty to questions about who they are and where they fit in. The natural transition from child to adult can also bring parental conflict as teens start to assert their independence. With all this drama, it isn’t always easy to differentiate between depression and normal teenage moodiness. Making things even more complicated, teens with depression do not necessarily appear sad, nor do they always withdraw from others. For some depressed teens, symptoms of irritability, aggression, and rage are more prominent..

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION IN TEENS

Psychotherapy for treatment of depression

Talk therapy is an extremely effective treatment for depression. Therapy gives you tools to treat depression from a variety of angles. What’s more, what you learn in therapy gives you skills and insight to help prevent depression from coming back.

There are many types of therapy available. Three of the more common methods used in depression include cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.  Often, a blended approach is used.

Some types of therapy teach you practical techniques on how to reframe negative thinking and employ behavioral skills in combating depression. Therapy can also help you work through the root of your depression, helping you understand why you feel a certain way, what your triggers are for depression, and what you can do to stay healthy.

Self Esteem

Self-esteem means to respect, yourself.  Having high self-esteem means that you have a positive image of yourself. Most of your self-image what you think is true about yourself-is learned.  It is not necessarily accurate at all.  Where are your beliefs about yourself drawn from? Where did you learn them? If you think about it you will see that they came from

• What others said about you
• What others told you
• What others did to you

Your self-image is the result of all the messages you heard about yourself as a child.  These messages added up to a set of beliefs about who you are.  It may have nothing to do with who you really are.  Cognitive therapy is one of the most successful methods for helping people feel better about themselves.  I will help you feel better about yourself by helping you identify how faulty ways of thinking are making you feel bad and help you to build a better and more realistic image of yourself , one that is more positive.

Life transitions

Life is a process of beginnings and endings.  In both life and nature, there are times when things move slowly and do not seem to change very much.  Then, suddenly, things change quickly.  Moving from August to September, the weather changes gradually at first, and then it seems that suddenly summer is over.  It is the same in our lives; transitions are as natural as the changing seasons.  Life transitions are challenging because they force us to let go of the familiar and face the future with a feeling of vulnerability.   Most life transitions begin with a string of losses.   Any significant loss makes most people feel fearful and anxious.  A life transition can be positive or negative, planned  or unexpected.  Some transitions happen without warning, and they may be quite dramatic, as in cases of accidents, death, divorce, job loss, or serious illness.  Other life transitions come from positive experiences such as getting married, going away to college, starting a new job, moving to a new city, or giving birth to a child.  Even though events life these are usually planned and anticipated they can be just as life-altering as the unexpected events.  Whether positive or negative life transitions can throw us into a personal crisis, feeling shocked, angry , sad and withdrawn. 

Psychotherapy can provide an opportunity for clients to learn about their strengths and to explore what they really want out of life.