Depression

What is Depression?

Depression is a mental disorder defined by low mood, feelings of worthlessness, and impaired thinking, emotion regulation, sleep, physical activity, appetite and energy levels.

Depression occurs when the body’s natural response to stress becomes too much. The severity and duration of the symptoms may increase as the intensity and frequency of the circumstances that cause them increase. Those suffering from depression are more likely to have increased anxiety, increased negative thoughts, decreased concentration, memory loss and slowed thinking.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

• Feelings of sadness, emptiness or hopelessness
• Angry outbursts, irritability and frustration
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most activities
• Insomnia or
• Tiredness and lack of energy
• Reduced appetite and weight loss or
• Increased cravings for food and weight gain
• Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

Causes of Depression

There are numerous possible causes of depression and often times the trigger remains unknown. Depression could potentially be caused by trauma, chemical imbalances, loss, major change or sometimes no reason at all.

How does counseling help depression?

Counseling will help you better understand your depression and work through unresolved issues. Counseling can work to change your perspective and discover potential stressors causing depression. Ultimately, counseling will help you identify, cope and manage these stressors constructively.