Maybe you have trouble getting up in the morning, preferring to hide under your covers rather than face the day. Maybe you feel like you’ve lost some of the joy in life. A lot of people experience feelings like these and ask themselves, “Are these symptoms of depression?” The question can be difficult to ask but this form of mental illness is more common than you might realize — it’s one of the most pervasive mental health disorders in the United States. Depression can affect anyone, from friends and family members to neighbors and colleagues.
If you are struggling with depression symptoms, consider making an appointment at Thriveworks in Long Beach, CA. With help from our trained mental health professionals, you can begin confronting your depression as soon as you are ready.
Depression Symptoms: What to Look Out For
Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but common threads do exist. Some symptoms can manifest in physical ways, like stomach pains, headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue. Others are felt more emotionally, such as deep feelings of hopelessness or despair.
Here are some of the most common symptoms to look out for:
- Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
- Excessive irritability
- Excessive levels of guilt or low self-worth
- Sleeplessness or oversleeping
- Restlessness
- Loss of appetite or binge-eating
- Loss of interest in hobbies
- Difficulty concentrating
- Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
Causes of Depression
What can cause depression? Perhaps you have experienced a traumatic life event, lost someone close to you, or are having relationship troubles. Maybe you are facing a physical ailment that is having a debilitating effect on your mental health. Or maybe you don’t understand the reasons for your depression symptoms at all, and that’s okay, too.
At Thriveworks, our counselors and therapists can treat many forms of depressive disorders. Among them:
- Major depressive disorder: This is often characterized by overwhelming feelings of sadness. Symptoms can include excessive guilt, significant fatigue, or loss of appetite. It is considered the most diagnosed form of depression.
- Persistent depressive disorder: This form of depression is characterized by similar symptoms as major depressive disorder, but they may last for two years or longer.
- Postpartum depression: New parents can develop the “baby blues” but this form of depression goes much deeper than that. Chronic anxiety and exhaustion are common signs of postpartum depression, as are deep feelings of inadequacy as a parent.
Can I Benefit From Depression Therapy?
Mental health professionals use several types of talk therapy to treat depression. Under a therapist’s supervision, clients gain awareness of the issues that are causing them distress and learn how to make healthy changes.
One common form of talk therapy is called cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, in which a therapist guides you toward identifying harmful thoughts and understanding how they impact your feelings and behaviors. Other forms of therapy can help teach coping skills and distress tolerance skills to better handle day-to-day symptoms.
Medications are also prescribed to treat depression, sometimes by themselves and sometimes in tandem with therapy. Your Thriveworks professional will determine whether medication is necessary based on the specifics of your situation. At Thriveworks in Long Beach, CA, our counselors have the experience to customize a treatment plan that is right for you and work with a psychiatric provider as needed.
Meet With a Therapist at Thriveworks Counseling in Long Beach, CA
At Thriveworks, we know depression can feel overwhelming so we make it as easy as possible to get started with depression counseling. Our providers offer extended hours during the week and on weekends, and we can often see new clients within the same week of an initial call.
We also have online therapy sessions available if you don’t have time for an in-person appointment or are more comfortable taking one remotely. Thriveworks accepts many major insurance plans and offers additional client benefits.
Depressive episodes can be frightening but you don’t have to face them alone. When you’re ready, the mental health professionals at Thriveworks in Long Beach, CA, are here to help.
