Depression is a deep despair. While there are different degrees and variations, this condition can cause one to feel hopeless, believe they are unimportant, and lose interest in the activities and people they once loved. Here are a few narratives that people with depression might believe to be true
- “I’m worthless. My job doesn’t need me, I might as well quit or just not show up—nobody will notice anyway.”
- “There’s no point in getting out of bed. Anything I do today won’t matter tomorrow or have a meaningful impact on the world.”
- “I don’t know why my friends keep acting like they want to hang out with me. I know that I’m just a burden and no fun to be around.”
This is the reality for many people dealing with depression. These false narratives can make overcoming or managing their depression extremely difficult. Fortunately, a counselor or therapist can help these individuals to recognize this deceptive thinking, understand other symptoms of their condition, and better manage their depression.
If you are struggling with depressive thoughts, consider working with a depression counselor, psychologist, or therapist at Thriveworks Alexandria. Our providers are the best of the best: they are equipped with impressive knowledge and extensive experience which enables them to help you manage your depression. They understand that you might be feeling hopeless right now—they want to instill that hope and love for life again.
Am I Depressed? Signs and Symptoms
Depression isn’t just feeling sad or down for a couple days—it’s a low level of despair. And it’s not always the result of losing a loved one, going through a breakup, or getting let go from a job. While it canresult from the above losses, it can also appear seemingly out of the blue. Whatever the cause, the following are common symptoms of depression:
- Feelings of intense sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness
- Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, self-hatred
- Loss of pleasure in daily activities
- Disturbed sleep and appetite
- Changes in energy levels
- Significant weight gain or loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue
- Suicidal thoughts
If you are experiencing any of these depression symptoms, it’s important you seek treatment. Consider working with a counselor at Thriveworks Alexandria who will work to help you understand and manage your depression.
How Does Depression Counseling Work?
The depression counselors at Thriveworks offer individualized care. This means that they will assess your unique experience and then develop a treatment plan that will best help you, because they know that symptoms can differ greatly between two individuals. Once they understand your specific presentation, they might incorporate the following into counseling:
- Changing negative thoughts.
A huge cause of depression is negative thinking. That’s why a common element in counseling for depression is changing negative thoughts and adopting more positive thoughts. To accomplish this mission, your counselor might teach you about different deceptions (mind reading, labeling, catastrophizing, etc.), which your negative thoughts are born from. Then, they’ll assist you in changing those negative thoughts. For example, when you catch yourself thinking, “I’m a complete failure,” they’ll help you realize that you actually just made one small mistake, as most people do. And that, in fact, you’re very capable; they’ll help you remember your strengths
- Engaging in self-care.
Self-care plays another big role in the development of depression and our overall wellbeing. When we forget to attend to our needs, we’re at a greater risk of feeling depressed, which means that self-care is important. Your counselor will teach you about the importance of self-care and then help you identify self-care strategies that will prove enjoyable and beneficial to you. Examples include: journaling, meditating, exercising, playing music, volunteering, or even getting/playing with a dog.
Correcting negative thoughts and engaging in self-care are huge steps toward managing your depression and living a happier, healthier life. Your counselor will assist you in taking these steps and continue to guide you on this journey that is living better.
Schedule an Appointment with a Counselor or Psychologist at Thriveworks Alexandria
If you are feeling depressed and you think that you could benefit from working with a skilled, caring mental health professional, reach out to Thriveworks Alexandria. We employ a “no waiting list” policy, which means that we will schedule an appointment for you right away—and you might even have your first session within 24 hours, as many clients do. Additionally, we accept many different insurances to ensure that you get the mental health care you need. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment, give us a call today.
