“I wouldn’t describe it as sadness,” Alannah tells her friend. “More like emptiness.” Alannah has been feeling depressed for four months now. She was able to keep it to herself until she started cancelling plans and then not making any at all. On top of the emptiness, she’s haunted by feelings of hopelessness, disinterest in day to day activities, a lack of motivation to get anything done. Her friend expresses concern: “Alannah, I’m worried about you. You know I’m here to support you, but I think you need help from a professional.”
When we develop symptoms of a mental illness or struggling with difficult feelings, we can find comfort and support in our loved ones. Sometimes, though, that isn’t enough. A mental health professional, be it a counselor, a therapist, or a psychologist, can help us in ways that others cannot. These individuals have developed skills, completed training, and gained experience in the mental health realm so that they can help others work through their mental health challenges, such as depression.
“My mental health problems are real and they are valid. I will not judge myself for the bad days when I can barely get out of bed. I will not make myself feel worse because someone else appears to be handling their mental illness better than I am handling mine. Recovery is not a competition.” –Matt Joseph Diaz
If you’re feeling depressed like Alannah or you’re beginning to develop symptoms of depression, consider working with a depression therapist at Thriveworks Edison Therapy. Our team is here to help you cope with this difficult reality, better manage depression symptoms, explore potential causes of your depression, and more. They’re here to help you every step of the way as you learn to work through your depression. To schedule your depression therapy appointment, just give our office a call.
What Are Depression Symptoms? Do I Have Depression?
The tricky thing about depression (and other mental illnesses) is that the symptoms can vary from person to person, in presentation and severity. For example, one person might experience the emptiness, hopelessness, and lack of motivation that Alannah describes above. Another individual, though, might experience more physical symptoms like sleep disturbances and changes in appetite.
That said, there are common depression symptoms that you should be aware of to better understand whether or not you might be depressed. In addition to a state of despair and disinterest in day to day activities, depressed individuals often experience the following:
- Sleep disturbances
- Changes in appetite and/or weight
- Isolation or withdrawal from others
- Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness
- Lack of focus or concentration
- Fatigue
- Irritability, moodiness
- Suicidal thoughts or ideation
If you think you might be depressed or at risk of becoming depressed, after consulting the above list of depression symptoms, please consider talking to a mental health professional. It’s important that you work with a counselor before your depression worsens. We have depression therapists, counselors, and psychologists here at Thriveworks Edison Therapy who would be happy to help.
How Can Depression Therapy Help?
Depression therapy is one form of effective treatment for depression. It can help those who feel depressed in multiple ways: For one, depression therapists lend their clients support through this difficult journey. Additionally, they can help their clients explore potential causes of their depression, be it a breakup, a fight with a loved one, a tough loss, or something else entirely. On top of that, the depression therapists at Thriveworks Edison Therapy can help individuals better manage the harmful symptoms that come with depression.
If you decide to work with a depression therapist at Thriveworks Edison Therapy, your provider will get to know your specific experience. They want to know the symptoms that you’re experiencing, why, and when it started. This knowledge will allow them to design a treatment plan that is the most effective plan for you and your unique needs. Remember: Their mission is to help you live a happy, successful life.
Get Depression Help at Thriveworks Edison Therapy
If you need depression help, know that Thriveworks Edison Therapy is here for you. Millions of people in the US struggle with depression every year—and that’s just in the US. Find solace in the fact that you are not alone. Plenty of other people feel depressed and they find the healing they’re looking for. Our depression therapists, counselors, and psychologists are here to aid in your healing.
To begin depression therapy at Thriveworks Edison, simply call our office. We’ll set you up with an appointment that is convenient for you. We have evening and weekend sessions, in addition to the normal daytime appointments, to best accommodate our clients and ensure that we can get them in as soon as possible.
We look forward to hopefully hearing from you soon!
