Depression Therapy & Treatment
While everyone experiences sadness during their lifetime, depression is extreme sadness or despair that lasts more than a few days and affects people in different ways. It is estimated that over 8 million adults have experienced a depressive episode during their lifetime including symptoms of prolonged sadness or feelings of emptiness; feelings of helplessness or hopelessness; feelings of guilt or worthlessness; anger and irritability; restlessness, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, changes in sleep patterns, appetite changes, chronic pain, headaches, or stomachaches; loss of interest in activities; withdrawal from friends and family; and thoughts of death or suicide. Fortunately, depression is highly treatable.
Depression isn’t a weakness, nor is it a character flaw. Depression can be caused by several factors including genetic predispositions, biological or physiological factors as well as psychological, social and environmental influences. Major life changes, trauma and stress can also create depressive symptoms. Depression tends to co-occur with anxiety as well as with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive related disorders.
Depression is usually best addressed with a comprehensive approach including medication management from a licensed medical provider as well as utilizing evidence based interventions therapeutic interventions including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and various Interpersonal Therapy interventions. Mental health therapy for depressive disorders tends to focus on identifying current and past life stressors, developing problem solving strategies to create behavioral change that will address current functioning as well as achieving future goals, the development of skills to manage difficult emotions as well as improve interpersonal relationships, and challenging underlying thought patterns that support depressive symptoms.