When you’re having a bad day, you might call up a friend to chat, make your favorite food, or watch a comforting movie. You do these activities to lift your mood so that you can wake up feeling recharged and restored the next day.
Alleviating these feelings is much more difficult if you’re dealing with a depressive disorder. The sadness you feel is much more potent, amplified by a sense of hopelessness and emptiness. Eating your favorite food or watching your favorite movie might not bring you any joy. You might feel isolated from your friends, so you don’t bother calling them. You might not even have the energy to do any of these things.
Depressive disorders often feel all-consuming and can be difficult to work through on your own when left untreated. Luckily, there’s another option for people living with depressive disorders — working with a mental health professional. The therapists and counselors at Thriveworks in Anchorage, AK, can help guide you through your depression to the happier days ahead. Contact our office today to get started.
Common Depressive Disorder Symptoms
Sometimes, people who are depressed don’t realize that they’re dealing with this mood disorder and blame themselves for feeling so down and exhausted. Being able to recognize the warning signs is an important first step in getting help. Some common symptoms of depression include:
- Feeling sad, hopeless, or empty much of the time
- Exhaustion
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, or oversleeping
- Trouble concentrating
- Restlessness
- Overeating or not eating enough
- Physical pains, like headaches, nausea, and other body aches
- Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
Depressive disorders are characterized by how long these symptoms last and how intensely they are felt by the individual. Experiencing these types of symptoms frequently for a period of more than two weeks could be a sign of depression. Symptoms are often severe enough to interfere with day-to-day activities. If left untreated, depression can wreak havoc on job performance, damage personal relationships, and lower a person’s quality of life.
Depression isn’t just “a case of the blues,” and people who live with the disorder can’t just snap out of it. If you suffer from depression or think you might be living with depression, don’t get discouraged –– treatment is available. Therapists and counselors from Thriveworks Counseling in Anchorage, AK, are trained in a variety of techniques to diagnose and treat major depressive disorders.
How Can Therapy Help With Treating Depression?
Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, helps you learn to think about the way you think so that you can feel more in control of your emotional and mental state. There are different kinds of talk therapy, with some of the more commonly used for treating depression being cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and interpersonal therapy (IPT).
Your counselor or therapist might also help you brainstorm healthy coping mechanisms you can build into your lifestyle. This can include activities such as exercise, meditation, drawing, or journaling.
Some treatment plans will incorporate medication alongside therapy. These medications help stabilize your mood and reduce the major symptoms of depression. Medication isn’t always used to treat depression, but your therapist will work with you to determine if medication could help and make sure you understand your prescription.
Thriveworks also offers online sessions, so you can get the help you need without leaving the comfort of your home. Your counselor or therapist can meet with you over the phone or by video chat, which can be beneficial to you if your depression makes leaving the house difficult.
What exactly your therapy looks like and how long therapy lasts will depend on your unique needs. Our mental health professionals in Anchorage, AK, are committed to providing personalized, comfortable care to help you live a happier life.
Starting Therapy for Depression at Thriveworks in Anchorage, AK
If you’re struggling with depression, we want you to know that help is available. Consider working with a counselor or therapist from Thriveworks Counseling in Anchorage, AK, so we can help you overcome your symptoms and get your life back on track.
We offer convenient evening and weekend hours, online counseling, a flexible cancellation policy, and access to counselors via email or phone between sessions. You can get an appointment set up immediately through our easy-to-use online scheduling tool or by calling our office. Some of our new clients can talk to a therapist or counselor within 24-48 hours. We also accept many major insurance plans –– getting care might be more affordable than you thought.
Contact us if you’re ready to get started with one of our depression counselors or therapists. Our scheduling team will find an appointment that fits into your schedule and answer any questions you might have.
Here at Thriveworks Counseling in Anchorage, AK, we pride ourselves on helping people find happiness and comfort in their lives. Call us today to set up an appointment with a depression counselor or therapist.
