Depression

What is Depression?

Depression is a normal emotional state that everyone experiences at different times in their lives. Often it is short lived but other times it can seem to hang on for a while or become chronic. Symptoms of depression include:

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
• Fatigue and decreased energy
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
• Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
• Irritability, restlessness
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
• Overeating or appetite loss
• Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
• Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

Not everyone experiences all these symptoms and different people experience the symptoms to different degrees. Although they are normal at different times in our lives, if they become persistent or overwhelming then depression becomes a more serious problem that needs to be addressed.

My Approach in Working with Depression

The most common approach for dealing with depression is medication. Even though they are helpful for improving your mood they do nothing to address the core cause of your depression. My experience is that for many people the reason they are depressed is that they don't know how to feel safe/comfortable with their emotions such as sadness, hurt, anger, shame and fear. We learn to hold these emotions in and after a while it takes so much energy to contain these emotions we just don't have the energy to do much and have so much negative energy inside us there is no space for the positve feelings.

I create a safe space for you to find your way to hold and process these emotions in a way and at a pace that is effective but not overwhelming. As we process the feelings we'll also notice how you think about them and what meanings you make about having them. Through this process we'll address any shame you have about your depression and the feelings you have and work toward developing a productive relationship with your feelings. As we move through the process you'll feel freer and happier in your life.