Depression

Depression is one of the most common mental health struggles, but many people aren’t sure what it looks like in real life. Are you tired of living with constant dread? Is it hard to remember the last time you felt genuinely happy or excited about something in your life? Even the excitement you used to feel over small things has disappeared. Your motivation has vanished with it, too.

Most days, getting out of bed in the morning seems so incredibly difficult. In addition to having less energy, you haven’t felt like you can control your emotions. Often, it feels like your emotions are all over the place. You find yourself switching between irritation, sadness, anger, or distress, and you know it’s more than occasional sadness. The way you feel is deep and intricate, and you wonder if other people can understand. Have you wondered if you are depressed?

What Are the Common Symptoms of Depression?

Sadness is a normal emotion. Everyone feels sad–it doesn’t feel good! But depression is deeper and darker, making it very difficult navigate. While depression can look different for different people, some of the most common symptoms of depression are:

• Inability to feel joy or positive emotions
• Either sleeping too much or not sleeping enough
• Negative or unhelpful thoughts about oneself
• Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Feeling worthless
• Mood swings
• Thoughts of suicide
• Hopelessness 
• Sadness
• Fatigue
• Lack of interest and joy in activities
• Low self-esteem

Do I Have a Psychological Disorder? 

There are several depressive disorders, but the most common are major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder. Because sadness is a normal emotion, the word “depression” is used a lot when describing it. Although sadness is certainly a component of depression, depressive disorders are much more complex. The way these disorders show up in different people can vary, although they consistently have a negative impact on functioning. They also create an overwhelming feeling of distress. The presentation of these disorders vary, though they all have an impact on functioning and create an overwhelming feeling of distress. People who have a depressive disorder often have difficulty functioning socially, occupationally, and educationally. Our therapists can help identify whether you have a depressive disorder. 

Can Psychological Therapy Help? 

Dealing with symptoms of depression is exhausting. It feels like it takes an excessive amount of energy to get through your daily life. Our counselors can help you rediscover what brings you joy in life. More importantly, we can help you get to the root causes of your depression. This way, we can work to alleviate the problem from the source. Our therapists will also work with you to build skills and tools to navigate your depression in a healthy manner. This way, you can still manage your everyday responsibilities.

Our therapists are trained in a variety of treatment modalities. One of the primary treatment approaches that we use is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT helps us understand the link between our thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Specifically, unhealthy thoughts lead to uncomfortable emotions, which then dictates our behavior.

For example, imagine walking down the street and accidentally stepping in a big pile of gum. One person might think “oops, I didn’t see that,” while another person might think “I’m so stupid, how could I have not seen that?!” As you might imagine, those two very different thoughts will produce opposite emotional reactions. In therapy, we’ll help you identify your thought patterns so you can start adjusting your thinking. More importantly, you’ll learn why you tend to think the way you do. You will have the opportunity to uncover familial patterns and negative life experiences that can explain why you tend to perceive your environment through a negative lens. 

How Do I Get Help?

We know how difficult living with depression is, and we’re ready to collaborate with you to get you back on your feet. We can work with you in order to reach the point that you no longer feel controlled by your depression. If you live in the Phoenix area and are ready to start your journey of healing, contact us today.