Depression Treatment

Anna was a teacher, a mother, and a wife; she had a rough childhood but started a great life in her adulthood with her family. She struggled with mood related issues on and off but all of sudden it started in the form of daily exhaustion and fatigue, then soon it grew to lack of motivation and interest in things she actually once loved to do.

Anna actually loved her job, and her professional career continues to look even more promising, but despite a great career and her loving family, she has always felt that something was missing. She felt an emptiness inside, one so strong that it conquers her every strength and she couldn't enjoy the little pleasures of life anymore. 

She couldn't go to the gym anymore, ate unhealthily and gained weight. Her friends became concerned, and her husband couldn't take her behavior anymore, so, he confronted her. He noticed she was withdrawn, drank alcohol heavily and had complaints from work. She was also irritable over minor things and snapped at the children both at school and home. Upon this confrontation, she started feeling worthless and like a burden on her family. It was then she started taking anti-depressant medication  and starting her counseling journey to a healthy and bright future again. 

• What do you think about Anna's story?

• Can you relate with some or all of Anna's experience with depression?

• Do you feel so empty inside that nothing makes you happy?

• Do you find yourself excessively procrastinating?

• Are you finding it difficult to concentrate or being productive at the end of the day?

• Maybe you find yourself pushing away those you love or getting angry over little things that were not supposed to even bother you in the first place. Are you having a hard time sleeping, eating and are you always tempted to turn to drugs or alcohol to numb the pain that you're going through?

• Do you also feel tired or exhausted, most times it floods you with unpleasant feelings and you even find it hard to get out of bed in the morning?

Since depression is an 'invisible' illness, some people find it very difficult to understand and sometimes explaining it to them can prove frustrating. Your friends and family may also find it difficult accepting the changes you are going through, from a very happy and lovable person to someone who looks rather sad and miserable all the time. Are you tired of trying and do you find yourself contemplating suicide? 

I've got good news for you... You do not have to think about that because your depression is totally treatable.

First off, you must understand that you're not alone. In fact, there are more depression stories than there are people on planet earth, because depression hits everyone more than once in a lifetime. According to a study by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), one in six people will experience depression at some point in their lifetime, and one in every 15 adults is affected by depression in any giving year. Depression can also strike at any time, but symptoms appear mostly during late teens to mid-20s.

With symptoms such as persistent sadness, guilt, negativity, lack of motivation, hopelessness, fatigue, withdrawal/isolation from others, changes in appetite and in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts. Depression can be situational and can arise as a result of circumstances like job loss, financial crisis, relocation, divorce, illness or the death of a loved one. Other causes of depression are medical issues, genetic factors or hormonal changes. No matter the situation, opting for evaluation through depression therapy is never a bad idea, as it can help you determine what course of treatment will be best for you.

What is Depression Counseling and what does it entail?

Everyone's story is unique, but it all leads to the point where you have to actually seek help. Anna in our story earlier on had to meet with a therapist who gave her an evaluation and as a result was able to figure out what that emptiness was. Her counselor learned that she had suffered a great deal of loss in a not so distant future - she lost both her parents to a chronic disease and immediately after the burial she and her family had to relocate to another state as her husband was promoted to head the new company branch.

Anna had little or no time to moan the death of her parents, she had to stay strong throughout this period and as they moved she was also trying to adjust to everything. From her husband's new job to adjusting to the new place, new people, new school for the kids and also getting a new job. It was just a matter of time before she broke down, it all became overwhelming, and she just couldn't suppress the unresolved emotions. Slowly the depression crept up on her, and she began to neglect herself and her needs. She turned to alcohol in order to shut out the world but this only made her worse. 

Her therapist was able to help process her grief issues, and as they progressed Anna was able to recognize her dysfunction, and she received the medication required. With the help of her therapist and the depression treatment, she is able to readjust in her new environment and find a balance with everything around her. Depression treatment goes a long way in helping individuals recover, as you can see in the case of Anna. 

When everything seems to fail or is falling apart, an experienced depression therapist can help put things into perspective again. Our depression therapist will take you through on your recovery journey by first recognizing and identifying the source of your depression, then help resolve the issue by providing a confidential and non-judgmental support. Your therapist will be able to hear your thoughts and concerns with empathy; he or she will then provide appropriate feedback for an additional form of depression treatment which may include visiting a recommended physician for medication management or incorporating healthier activities or hobbies into their lives.

Your therapist will also help you by creating resources or support plan for how you can cope with those intense feelings, dysfunctional thoughts, and sensations that may arise during this period. You'll also be taught helpful skills such as stress management, anger management, social skill training, etc. 

Alright... I think this might just be what I need right now, but I don't want people thinking that there is something wrong with me.

Now let me clear you on that... First off you must understand that except you want to make your physician or family member part of this, your treatment and depression counseling will be confidentially between you and your therapist. For those using health insurance, you need not worry; your provider will need a diagnosis code to pay for your treatment, aside from that, no other clinical information will be revealed to them. You can also choose to pay privately if you do not want your insurance company interfering in any way. 

Therapists are trained professionals with years of schooling and advanced degrees in human behavior, effective interventions, and relationship dynamics. They are trained to assess patient's functional capacity and can effectively handle moderate depression symptoms. They can also advise and recommend that you see a physician if they feel your depression symptoms are moderate to severe but they'll, of course, discuss this with you. Therapists are trained not to be biased, and since they work with many types of individuals and issues, they are not usually surprised at your problem. So it is ideal that you discuss openly and honestly with them, share your fears and deepest feelings with them, and they'll be able to help you successfully through your medication.

Depending on your situation, depression treatment without medication is very possible while for others it best tackled alongside with medication. Your therapist will surely know what's best for you.

For more information about individuals struggling with depression and the assistance they can get, please visit us at Wake Counseling & Mediation to speak with a certified, experienced depression therapist.

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