Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, affecting millions of people worldwide. Symptoms of depression are more than feeling “down,” and are more long-lasting and intense than situational grief. Depressive disorders can interfere with your life, controlling the way you feel, think, and behave.
Because depression is so common, many people fail to recognize how serious depressive disorders truly are. When left untreated, depression symptoms can get worse over time and lead to self-harm, substance abuse, and difficulty performing tasks like basic hygiene, getting out of bed, and caring for your household or family members.
Fortunately, even the most severe forms of depression can be managed with the help of a mental health professional. A therapist or counselor at Thriveworks Counseling in Loveland, CO, can help you understand your depressive disorder and give you the tools to cope with your symptoms and manage your condition. Call our office today to set up your first appointment.
Recognizing Signs and Symptoms of Depression
There are many forms of depression to consider. Some kinds of depression have specific causes that make them easier to identify, such as postpartum depression and situational depression. Other forms of depression, like major depressive disorder, have causes that are not fully understood, making their broad list of possible symptoms more difficult to pinpoint.
Depressive disorders can look very different from one person to the next. Your past experiences, emotional state, and personality can affect the way you experience depression. This is part of what makes depression such a difficult disorder to diagnose.
Though the symptoms of depression can vary greatly, some of the most common signs to look for include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities or hobbies
- Sleep disruption – sleeping too little or too much
- Appetite and weight fluctuations
- Anxiety or restlessness
- Agitation, irritability, or angry outbursts
- Trouble thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fatigue or lethargy
Depression can manifest both physically and psychologically, which often leads to depressive disorders being left undiagnosed and untreated. If you or someone you love has experienced any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, consider speaking with one of the mental health professionals at Thriveworks in Loveland, CO, for support.
How Can Depression Therapy Help Me?
Treating depression is a highly personalized experience, based specifically on the issues and concerns you are facing. Your therapist or counselor will take your symptoms, personality, emotional state, and past experiences into consideration to develop a unique treatment plan to tackle your depression.
Treatment for depression generally includes at least one form of talk therapy, or a combination of multiple approaches like Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy. Talk therapy helps you understand your depressive disorder and how it affects your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, giving you the tools you need to correct them.
Your therapist or counselor might also recommend therapeutic techniques, like controlled breathing or meditation, that can be used both during therapy sessions or at home to help you handle stress and negative emotions. Prescription medications can also be extremely helpful in managing depressive disorders, especially when combined with other therapeutic approaches.
Overall, depression therapy or counseling can help you overcome your depression by teaching you how to:
- Identify and replace negative thoughts and behaviors
- Adjust to life challenges or crisis
- Developing positive interactions and relationships with others
- Finding effective ways to problem solve
- Use healthy behaviors to accept and tolerate stress and difficult emotions
- Set and chive realistic goals
- Gain an overall sense of satisfaction and control in your life
When you are ready to regain control over your mental health and stop depression from interfering with your life, a therapist at Thriveworks in Loveland, CO, is ready to help. We can often accommodate new clients within 24 to 48 hours.
Beginning Therapy for Depression with Thriveworks in Loveland, CO
Your depressive disorder doesn’t have to control your thoughts, feelings, or how you live your life. If you’re ready to overcome depression, Thriveworks in Loveland, CO, can connect you with the right therapist to guide you through the next steps.
Getting help for your depression is easy and convenient with Thriveworks. We accept many major insurance plans and make it easy to set up therapy sessions that fit into your busy life. In addition, we offer online counseling opportunities, and appointments are available on weekends, in the evenings, and even first thing in the morning.
In between appointments, you can still get the help you need by connecting with providers by phone or email, or taking advantage of our other client benefits. In addition, counselor-moderated discussion boards, exclusive online video content, and 24-hour ask-a-coach Q&A can help fill in the spaces when you need extra support.
You don’t have to wait any longer to get relief from your depression symptoms. Schedule your first therapy session with a therapist or counselor at Thriveworks in Loveland, CO, today. Call our office or use our convenient online scheduling tool to get started.
