Depression

We all have bad days and feel down from time to time. It is normal to feel sad when something bad happens to us, but this sadness does not often impact our ability to function and goes away on its own. However, with depression, these feelings are different from having a bad day. Depression can be characterized by intense sadness, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, that occurs nearly every day for an extended period of time. 

Depressive symptoms affect the way we think, feel, and interact with others and can negatively impact our lives. Most often the effects of depression begin to impact our daily routines as well as our functioning in social, work, and school situations. Some signs that you may be suffering from depression can include: 

• Feeling down, tearful, empty, sad, or helpless
• Experiencing feelings of worthlessness, guilt or fixating on past failures
• Loss of interest in people, places and activities that you previously enjoyed
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
• Suicidal thoughts or thoughts about hurting yourself
• Being irritable, and having angry outbursts
• Lack of motivation and difficulty getting things done
• Problems with appetite, including eating too much or too little
• Fatigue, lack of energy, even small tasks take effort
• Problems with sleep, either sleeping too much or having difficulty sleeping 

Depression can manifest differently in children and adolescents than it does in adults. Symptoms such as irritability and anger may be more prominent. Additionally, children and adolescents may experience significant social withdrawal, loss of interest in school, and changes in their academic performance. For very young children, depression can often manifest physically in the forms of muscle aches, restlessness, or nausea, as young children may not have the emotional insight to describe how they are feeling. 

Depression is among the most treatable mental health conditions. Aside from medications, psychotherapy has been found to be extremely effective in helping clients identify distorted thinking patterns and causes of depressive symptoms. Particular interventions that have been shown to be helpful in treating depression are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and Mindfulness. These treatment approaches seek to help reframe negative thinking, recognize triggers for depression, and learn helpful ways to cope when feeling overwhelmed. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, contact us for a free 15 minute consultation to see how we can help you on your path to feeling better.