Treatment for Depression
Professional Treatment For Depression
If you are reading this page you are obviously thinking about depression and maybe wondering if you or someone you know is suffering from it.
Common symtoms of depression:
- Are you feeling emotionally stuck and finding it hard to experience joy or happiness?
- Are you lacking a general feeling of interest in life?
- Do you feel as if you have a big empty hole inside that can’t be filled?
- Do you find it hard to get out of bed in the morning and face the day?
If you have been experiencing any of the above for a long period of time you might be suffering from depression and need professional help.
Depression is common
Depression is a common mental and physical mood disorder. There are about one in six people in Australia that will suffer from depression in their lifetime.
It is a very serious disorder that can cause severe symptoms that affect how people feel, think, and handle everyday activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.
Generally, to receive a medical diagnosis of depression, the symptoms must be present for more than two weeks and chronic depression greater than six months.
Depression is much more than feeling in a down mood after something sad or stressful has happened.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression
From an indication prospective, if someone has been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, they may be suffering from depression:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism
- Irritability
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
- Decreased energy or fatigue
- Moving or talking more slowly
- Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Appetite and/or weight changes
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
- Problems with sex or less interest in sex
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment
Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some people experience only a few symptoms while others may experience many.
Several persistent symptoms in addition to low mood are required for a diagnosis of major depression. The severity and frequency of symptoms and how long they last will vary depending on the individual.
Who can develop depression
Current research suggests that depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
Depression can happen at any age, but often begins in adulthood.
Depression is now recognised as occurring in children and adolescents, although it sometimes presents with more prominent irritability than low mood.
Many chronic mood and anxiety disorders in adults begin as high levels of anxiety in children.
Depression, especially in midlife or older adults, can co-occur with other serious medical illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
These conditions are often worse when depression is present. Sometimes medications taken for these physical illnesses may cause side effects that contribute to depression.
Common causes of depression
- Personal or family history of depression
- Major life changes, trauma, or stress
- Some of the causes of depression are as follows
- Emotional distress – grief and loss of a loved one
- Feeling lonely or directionless
- Alcohol and drug abuse can induce depression
- Chronic pain
- Chronic anxiety and stress
- Mental Illness
If you need help with any of the above, you have come to the right place
Here are just some of the ways I can help lift you out of the darkness you have been experiencing:
- Helping you to learn how to reduce and/or better control feelings of anxiety, stress, and sadness – Improve your coping ability
- Helping to address any negative behaviours and self-talk that feeling low or depressed.
- Installing positive self-talk and affirmations to build your self worth and self acceptance
- Assist you establish real goals and help you work towards them so that you can really connect with your life purpose.
- Discover the root cause of those deep uncomfortable feelings and heal them
Depression is very hard to deal with alone, as a clinical therapist and counsellor I have helped hundreds of people to deal with and overcome this debilitating disorder.
If you or someone you care for is suffering from depression making an appointment with me can start you on your journey of healing and recovery.
Treatment
My approach is different from the standard talk therapy for depression. When I work with my clients I consider their mental, emotional and spiritual well being.
What is often missed with a clinical approach is that we are not just physical and mental beings, we are spiritual beings.
By taking this holistic approach things can change for the person in the deepest way.
Leading from the darkness into the light is my aim with everyone I work with.
How many sessions will you need
People often ask me how many sessions they will need before they will begin to feel better and that can be a challenging question for me to answer simply.
When we suffer from any illness, even a medical one, a GP or specialist can not determine how long it will take for the person to respond to their treatment, they can only estimate based on the average response, and the same applies with mental, emotional and even spiritual changes for a person that is suffering from chronic depression.
We are all unique and depression in itself can be very a complex issue to work through, especially chronic depression. There are often different underlying layers to the issue of depression and that makes the disorder multifaceted and the treatment multidimensional.
You may have lived with depression for a long time, so it’s important to understand that for long term change it may take time depending on the individual and the cause of depression.
Whatever reasons for your depression you can expect to feel better overtime and with each session you can expect to gain more control.
If you have not found any relief from other more traditional therapies, maybe it’s time to take a new approach.
To book your first please contact Donna on 0424 300 678 or for your convenience book online so that we can start your healing journey together.
It takes just a simple phone call to make the first step towards feeling better. So many of my clients have told me that was the hardest part.
I can help you out of depression and back into living again.
Call Donna today on 0424 300 678 to make your booking or book online to select the time that suits you best.
I look forward to helping get you back on the track to fully living again.
