Far from simply feeling sad, depression has the potential to drag you down and affect your ability to live your life. For some, it can mean a mental fog where it’s difficult to concentrate or remember details. For others, it means a pervasive lethargy that severely limits their ability to take care of themselves or even do things they once enjoyed. Depression can be overwhelming and strike at any time, even if you feel like your life is otherwise going well.
If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses and many living with depression never get the treatment they need. Some may feel like they are obliged to handle these feelings by themselves but depression can be much more oppressive than normal feelings of sadness. For some, it can be chronic, with episodes lasting months or even years.
In the same way that you’d seek out a doctor to treat a broken bone, it’s a good idea to seek out depression counseling to manage symptoms of depression. A mental health professional can help treat the immediate symptoms while teaching the skills necessary to process emotions and avoid depressive episodes later on.
If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression, the mental health professionals at Thriveworks in Bentonville, AR can help. We offer a variety of services to help improve your mental health on your terms.
Causes and Types of Depression
A number of factors can contribute to the onset of depression, including trauma, major life transitions, and pain from childhood. A family history of depression can also increase the risk of depression, as can certain biological factors.
Other possible causes of depression can include:
- Certain medications
- Conflicts or disputes with family members and friends
- Grief from a death or loss
- Serious illnesses
- Substance abuse
Depression symptoms can also manifest in different ways. Some people may experience deep feelings of sadness and suicidal thoughts while others may be unable to get out of bed and keep their work commitments. In some cases, other illnesses such as anxiety may be intertwined with depression, making it necessary to treat both.
Some of the most common forms of depression include:
- Major depressive disorder
- Persistent depressive disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Postpartum depression
If feelings of depression are interfering with your life, consider scheduling a depression counseling appointment at Thriveworks in Bentonville, AR.
How Can Depression Therapy Help?
As destructive as depression is, it is also highly treatable. Depression counseling can help you handle the immediate symptoms of depression while working toward improving harmful or ineffective thoughts and behaviors.
Therapists will typically tailor their approach to each client’s concerns, goals, and lifestyle. In general, treating depression involves some form of talk therapy or medication. For some clients, a combination is required; medication can help soften the worst depressive symptoms while talk therapy can address its underlying causes.
There are many evidence-based talk therapy approaches that are used depending on the therapist’s specialty and the specifics of the situation. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is one of the most common. It focuses on reevaluating the common patterns of thought that lead to depressive episodes and molding them into healthy, more effective habits. Others, such as interpersonal therapy or problem-solving therapy, involve exploring factors like relationships with others or responses to problematic events, respectively.
At Thriveworks in Bentonville, AR, we understand that depression can be overwhelming. Our mental health professionals who specialize in treating depression can work with you to find a therapeutic approach appropriate to your symptoms and lifestyle.
Starting Therapy for Depression With Thriveworks in Bentonville, AR
If you are struggling with depression or think you might be, it may be time to seek out professional help. Depression can affect anybody, and finding treatment often represents the first step to living a happier, healthier life.
Thriveworks in Bentonville, AR is ready to provide you with access to care that fits your needs. We offer evening and weekend sessions as well as telehealth visits by phone or video chat for your convenience. Our offices also accept a variety of insurance plans and provide benefits, including:
- Therapy Buddy, our companion app for counseling
- A free download of our eBook, “Leaving Depression Behind”
- Ask-a-coach 24 hour Q&A
- Advice by phone or email outside of regularly scheduled sessions
Depression can feel impossible to deal with but you don’t have to get by on your own. Give us a call and you could have an appointment in as little as 24 hours. You have the power to break free of depression, and Thriveworks in Bentonville, AR can help.
