Depression Therapy
Does Everything About Life Lately Feel Low, Frustrating, Or Hopeless?
Has a lack of energy or enthusiasm caused you to stop participating in activities that once brought you joy? Do you feel overwhelmed by ongoing stress at work, home, or daily responsibilities that take up the majority of your time? Are you spending more and more time in bed, whether you are sleeping or not?
Perhaps you are having a difficult time connecting to those around you, and your relationships are suffering as a result. It feels like no matter what you do, you cannot escape feeling low or numb.
What you want is to feel hopeful that life can get better. You want to believe that you no longer have to be stuck in a seemingly inescapable cycle of misery—that life can feel joyful and fulfilling.
Depression Is Not Just A Bad Mood You Can ‘Snap Out Of’
When you are going through a tough time mentally, depression can manifest in various ways.
Physically, you may have low energy and experience noticeable changes in your sleep patterns. Your weight and eating habits may also change dramatically, with ups or downs significantly different from your usual levels.
Emotionally, maybe you are struggling with low motivation, feelings of isolation, loneliness, or low self-worth. Or perhaps even “small” things lead to crying spells, increased irritability, or higher levels of frustration. Difficulty concentrating and thoughts of hopelessness may have become part of your daily reality.
Even though it might feel like nothing can help, relief is possible. Seek Therapy provides a safe space for you to process your experiences, understand the causes of your depression, and develop healthy coping skills to overcome and heal from it.
It Is Normal To Have Times Of Sadness
Experiencing emotional highs and lows is a natural part of life, especially during overwhelming moments or challenging situations. However, people tend to confuse being sad with depression. Sadness is an emotion that is relatively short-lived and fades with time. However, depression is a state that can be debilitating in both its acute and chronic forms. (1)
In the US, around one in ten people have experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, and around one in five will in their lifetime. Additionally, one in five adolescents (12-17yo) and young adults (18-25yo) have already experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, highlighting the extra challenges that young people have been facing. (2)
Major depression is even more common amongst specific populations. Roughly one in three teen girls experience depression each year, and LGBTQIA+ adults are nearly two to five times more likely than non-LGBTQIA+ adults to have experienced a depressive episode in the past year. (3)
Modern Society Fosters An Environment Where Depression Can Snowball
Depression can have various contributing factors, such as genetic predisposition, past traumas such as abuse or neglect, and other mental health conditions.
Despair can also be fueled by local and global events, including political proceedings; pandemic challenges; economic hardships; climate concerns; or social and racial discrimination. Teens and younger adults have had an especially challenging past few years as they have faced many of these issues during the formative years of their lives.
But no matter how skeptical you may feel about improving your life right now, a compassionate depression therapist can provide the support and understanding you need to experience a brighter future.
Seek Therapy Specializes In Depression Treatment So You Can Focus On A Happier, Healthier You
Depression therapy provides a safe, judgment-free environment where you can feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and experiences as you learn skills to help you cope with overwhelming emotions. In therapy, you can better understand what might be dragging you deeper into despair and find positive ways to make lasting change.
Sessions will teach you how to take steps to deal with your thought patterns and behaviors in a way that will improve your mood and lessen the likelihood of you getting pulled down again.
Depression Therapy Approach
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic approach we typically use in depression therapy where the focus lies on behavioral activation. With behavioral activation, we encourage people to identify and engage in activities that can reignite a sense of purpose and joy.
This approach also involves exploring maladaptive thoughts and thinking patterns by helping you recognize when your mind may be exaggerating or dismissing relevant information. By doing so, we seek to bring about a more balanced perspective and encourage you to reengage with life.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is another approach used in depression therapy that encourages you to reconnect with what truly matters to you. By incorporating mindfulness practices, this modality helps you stay present and engaged in the moment. ACT guides you toward your values and serves as a powerful tool for refocusing on meaningful pursuits as a means to find emotional well-being.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modality that benefits depression therapy by honing in on emotional maintenance activities that can be done on a consistent basis. Emotion regulation techniques help establish healthy routines, which can make you less vulnerable to emotional extremes. Distress tolerance strategies and interpersonal relationship skills are also integral components of treatment that empower you to manage distressing situations effectively.
The burden of depression is not one you have to bear on your own. At Seek Therapy, you can rest assured that you will be supported, heard, and validated throughout your healing process. With the right treatment and an experienced psychologist by your side, you can manage and heal from the symptoms of depression.
Maybe You Are Considering Depression Therapy But Still Have A Few Concerns…
-
We will meet you where you are to guide you toward recovery. Motivating yourself while in a depressive state is an extremely challenging task by its very nature, but your being here and reading this shows that you are hoping for a change. We will harness these early positive steps to create forward momentum toward your recovery.
-
Although many others experience difficult times as well, your suffering is very real, and it is yours. Acknowledging and treating your own suffering does not minimize the suffering of others—instead, it helps you manage the struggles that are real and personal to you. Seeking help can give you the means and support to get you through your hardest times.
-
Therapy can provide you with tools to manage the thoughts and behaviors that drag your depression into a seemingly inescapable black hole. In many cases, therapy skills can change your life (both now and in the future) by providing you with new ways of thinking or behaving, which can subsequently impact your world. However, even when faced with situations fully out of your control, therapy can help you take back your life.
You Can Learn To Feel Hopeful About Life
If you are tired of feeling low, numb, and hopeless, depression treatment at Seek Therapy can help shift your life toward healing and transformation. To find out more about how we can help you, please call (310) 971-9800 to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
(1) https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2671413
(2) https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
(3) https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/12/lgbt-adults-report-anxiety-depression-at-all- ages.html
