Depression Counselling
Has Depression got a grip on You?
As a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Psychotherapist who is focused on working with people who have depression, I can help you.
Signs of Depression
- Maybe you’ve lost your energy for living. You just ‘go through the motions’ each day.
- Doing simple things takes a lot of energy and effort.
- There is no enjoyment in the things you used to like doing.
- You feel sad or numb.
- Anger and irritability are never far away.
- You despair that things will never get better.
We all experience low mood at times…
It is a part of everyday life to encounter challenges that make you sad or bring your mood down. Losing a job, having a relationship end, or grieving the death of a person or animal you loved, are all reasons you might feel sad or low.
Despite aiming to feel happy most of the time, life happens! It is normal to experience a mix of different feelings from day to day and that can include sadness. At times you may even feel a bit flat or unmotivated. Occasionally you might be more easily irritated or angered by other people or things happening in your life. This is well within the range of what we can expect to feel as we go about our lives.
Dealing with depression
What we end up calling depression can look different from person to person. So as you read this see what fits you. You might find that your symptoms are a unique combination of what other people experience.
Symptoms of depression can be very mild to quite severe, even requiring hospitalization. Depression can last only a short time, for a couple of days or weeks, or it can persist for many months. For some people, it comes and goes, but they can always remember periods of low mood in their life. Perhaps it has never happened to you before.
Do you find that your symptoms of depression include periods of low mood that change with the seasons or come on when you are stressed? Having a healthy lifestyle seems to help and you find ways of dealing with the depression. But it keeps coming back. Do you have a really hard time going to work or seeing friends when your mood is low? Or are you like other people and you manage to get along in spite of feeling down.
Other people find that their mood tends to be chronically low but not so bad they would call themselves depressed. They might be in a relationship, have a successful job, see friends, and have an active lifestyle. Does that describe you? Maybe you don’t really connect with the term depression but you are aware that you have trouble feeling excitement, pleasure, and are often numb and flat. In the end, it doesn’t really matter what name you give to what you are going through. What’s important is finding a way of dealing with what you are going through.
You are not alone:
Depression is one of the top 10 reasons that people in BC visit a family doctor. There is also a well-established link between chronic pain and depression. Illnesses such as IBS, cancer, colitis, and fibromyalgia, are often accompanied by changes in mood; when you are struggling with your health it can be hard to keep your spirits up and your anxiety in check. Experiencing a car accident or a trauma can also trigger depression and anxiety.
Getting help
Seeing your Family Doctor can help you sort out what is going on, and determine if there is another health issue that is contributing to your low mood. Fortunately, counselling is well established as an effective way to deal with depression and low mood. Adding depression counselling to your treatment can be a powerful way of supporting your recovery.
Signs that you may benefit from therapy for Depression or low mood:
- You find yourself over or under-eating.
- Feeling overwhelmed, easily irritated, frustrated and generally unhappy.
- You are lacking the energy and will to get things done.
- You have no hope for your future.
- You don’t enjoy the things that normally bring you pleasure.
- Never getting a break from worry and always being focused on what is going wrong in your life.
- You have lost the ability to bounce back from stress.
- You are using alcohol and pot to help yourself cope and feel better.
You don’t have to go through this difficult time alone. Even if you feel bad right now, with appropriate counselling you can feel better again. Counselling for depression can help you identify what is contributing to feeling chronically unhappy, and how you can feel better.
The Benefits of Depression Counselling:
- Find ways to take control over your sadness.
- Regain a sense of hope and purpose in your life.
- Face your day with energy and create a positive outlook on life.
- Identify and deal with stress that may contribute to feeling low.
- Feel more at ease and confident.
- Become resilient; a person who can roll with life’s ups and downs.
As a therapist who works with depression, I can help you.
Don’t remain trapped under constant stress, worry, and fear. Flatness, feeling blue, and a lack of energy don’t have to be your constant companions.
We can work together to help you achieve your recovery. I can help you to find the way to feeling good about yourself and your life. Contact me today to schedule your free 20-minute consultation.