Depression is the most common mood disorder among people in the U.S. Knowing you’re not alone in your struggles with depression offers some comfort, but it doesn’t make it much easier to manage the symptoms of this mood disorder. Whether you struggle with chronic depression or this is the first time you’ve felt depressed, therapy offers a safe space to explore the way it impacts your life and begin working toward symptom reduction and more fulfilling days. On this page, you can find out a bit more about what depression is, how it impacts people, and why therapy is such a beneficial resource for those who struggle with depression.
This is a great question that we hear frequently from our clients. While depression is often used as a synonym for being very sad, there are actually some real differences. Sadness is a healthy emotion that our brains and bodies use to heal when we lose someone, struggle to navigate a certain situation, or simply have an experience that challenges our expectations. Sadness helps us to grieve and heal during difficult times. Depression is called a mood disorder because it distorts this healthy emotion into something that hurts instead of healing. People who struggle with depression often feel helpless, hopeless, fatigued, and they stop finding joy in their lives. This can last for weeks, months, or even years, making daily life a challenge.
Many of our clients tell us they waited along time to schedule a therapy session because they really didn’t believe they were depressed. They told themselves it was just sadness, and they would start feeling better. If this sounds like you, take a moment to answer the questions below:
- Are you constantly sad or feel like your emotions are all tinged with sadness?
- Do you often find yourself stuck in negative thought spirals, believing everything is bad and nothing will get better?
- Have you suddenly lost interest or stopped enjoying your favorite activities?
- Are you struggling with mood swings or irritability?
- Do you feel worthless or like you won’t ever achieve your goals no matter how hard you try?
- Is concentration getting more and more difficult?
- Have you lost motivation for even the smallest daily tasks?
- Do you sleep more or less, eat more or less, or notice other behavioral changes?
- Are you experiencing aches and pains that aren’t directly attached to injuries or other causes?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you may be struggling with depression, and therapy might be a good option to start alleviating symptoms.
Like most things in life, people get as much out of therapy as they put into it. For those who are struggling with depression, that can present a challenge of its own. How do you put in the effort into therapy when you can barely put in the effort to get out of bed in the morning? We hear you. It’s not easy. That’s why therapy for depression involves creating space and time to talk through your emotions. It also gives you a reason to get out of bed and make some progress. From there, you’ll take small steps to make simple changes. For instance, you may work on behavioral activation. This is a therapy style that involves changing simple behaviors to reduce the symptoms of depression. As an example, if all you want to do is sit in the dark and listen to sad music, you could change things up by opening your blinds and listening to happy music. Making simple changes like this will begin to alleviate symptoms over time. Whether you and your therapist utilize behavioral activation or some other approach to therapy, you will partner to reduce depression symptoms and improve your daily life.
The Ubuntu Psychological Services team understand that depression makes it difficult to even reach out to schedule a therapy session, so we make it simple to get started. You just need to complete a request form to set up a short discovery phone call. On this call, you can ask questions and get to know your therapist from the comfort of your own home in your PJs. No showering or getting out of bed needed. After this phone session, your therapist will set up a full online intake session to talk through introductory questions. During this visit, you’ll discuss your goals and work together to develop a plan for upcoming therapy sessions.
