Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is the voice of a demigod in the film Moana and frequently plays a fearless action hero in movies, but even he has succumbed to depression in real life. In 2015 Johnson stated, “I found that, with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone.” And he’s right. At any given time, 18.5% of American adults are experiencing mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of depression. Worldwide, over 260 million people of all ages struggle with depression. If you are suffering from depression, you’re in good company.
Depression counselors at Thriveworks in Walnut Creek, CA are here to help you overcome depression and get back to your regularly scheduled life. It can be hard to view the world realistically through the prism of depression. Everything can seem hopeless and negative. But that is often just the disorder talking. The licensed mental health providers at Thriveworks can help you recognize the symptoms of depression and give you the psychological and psychiatric resources to prevent future episodes.
How Do Mental Health Counselors Treat Depression?
Mental health providers like licensed counselors and psychiatrists at Thriveworks in Walnut Creek, CA have a variety of tools in their tool belts to treat depression. These tools include:
- Psychotherapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Lifestyle changes in diet and exercise
- Relaxation or mindfulness training
- Psychiatric medication
- Family or marriage therapy
- Substance abuse treatment
- Anxiety therapy
Your counselor will work with you to find the best treatment plan, which may end up being a fusion of effective therapies.
Does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Work for Depression?
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most widely studied and empirically proven forms of depression treatment. Extensive research has shown it to be highly effective in treating depression, even to the point where it can sometimes replace antidepressant medication altogether. CBT focuses on modifying learned patterns of thinking and behavior. By addressing distortions in the ways individuals think (maladaptive thoughts and beliefs), depression therapists at Thriveworks in Walnut Creek, CA can help people come up with better strategies for coping with life’s obstacles.
Do Men and Women Exhibit Different Symptoms of Depression?
Whether you’re a man, a woman, or nonbinary, depression often presents with the following clinical symptoms:
- Persistent, sometimes overwhelming feelings of sadness, guilt, and/or worthlessness
- Sleep and appetite changes
- Changes in your energy levels/diminished activity
- Loss of pleasure and interest in previously enjoyable activities, aka anhedonia
- Negative beliefs about the self
If these common, unisex symptoms last for two weeks or more, you may need to seek professional help for your depression from Thriveworks in Walnut Creek, CA.
Sometimes, however, men and women can display different signs of depression, to the point where it can be hard to recognize the disorder in one another. For example, depressed men tend to face overlapping substance abuse issues more often than women. Men are also more likely to act angry or irritable, showing their depression in an “externalizing” manner, whereas women tend to turn inward when they’re depressed. They also tend to experience more feelings of guilt than men.
What Kinds of Depression Can a Counselor at Thriveworks Diagnose?
A depression counselor or a psychiatrist at Thriveworks in Walnut Creek, WA will conduct a full psychological evaluation before diagnosing an individual with depression. Therapists recognize a few different categories of depression, including:
- Bipolar affective disorder or manic depression
- Postpartum depression (PPD)
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) or dysthymia (depression lasting two years or longer)
- Major depressive disorder (unipolar depression)
- Mild or moderate depression
Your counselor may consult with a psychiatrist (a medical doctor who can prescribe medication) at Thriveworks if they suspect you could benefit from treatment with antidepressants or another drug. If this is your first experience with depression, your counselor may want to rule out physiological causes for depression like thyroid problems at the start of psychotherapy treatment.
Start Your Path to Recovery from Depression with Thriveworks
When you’re depressed, seeking professional help can seem like a daunting task. That’s why at Thriveworks we try to make it as easy as possible for you to get the support you both need and deserve. We open our office early and keep it open late so you can reach a human being on the phone and not a voicemail. We try to get you in to see your top-rated, licensed Thriveworks counselor quickly—usually within the span of 24-48 hours. And 97% of our therapy appointments happen on-time or early. Additionally, you can opt for online appointments if the burden of traveling to the Thriveworks office in Walnut Creek, CA is too much to bear. Our depression counselors accept most health insurance, making the appointments affordable as well as convenient. Call Thriveworks today to start your path to recovery.
