DEPRESSION

“Depression is nourished by a lifetime of ungrieved and unforgiven hurts” – Penelope Sweet

Depression takes many forms, all of which are debilitating. Loneliness, hopelessness, helplessness, anger, lack of energy, lack of sleep, and appetite disturbance. Depression effects your work life, your home life, and your whole life. Life can seem pointless and meaningless under the shadow of depression. The negative thoughts are overwhelmin. One becomes your own judge, jury and prosecutor. Verdict: guilty… for everything.

According to the most recent research by the National Institute of Mental Health, 9.5 percent of the American population suffers from depression.

It is important to remember that you did not cause your depression and that you can not get out of it or “buck up” by willpower alone. Counseling works to open doors to a relief of depressive symptoms. Sometimes medication is needed, but not always and never alone. There is no magic pill, but there is hope.

May people have lived with depression for so long that it seems like this is normal. Regardless of the duration of symptoms, a richer life where joy can be felt is possible.

As a psychotherapist, I work with my clients to investigate the different treatment options and begin the road back to mental health. We develop healthy coping strategies to deal with the inevitable wins and losses of life.

Depression is very real and very dangerous. Therapy can help stop the pain and begin to remove the pain to create a brighter future.