Do you have depression?
What are the signs and symptoms of depression?
What are the types of depression?
How I Can Help You.
As with anxiety, depression is something that we all experience at some point in time in that we will experience some situation or event during our lifetime that leaves us feeling sad or blue. For some though, that sadness can persist, negatively impacting the way they feel, think, and act. This persistent type of depression causes not only feelings of sadness but also a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems as well as decrease your ability to function at work and at home.
Signs & Symptoms of Depression
Once again, as with anxiety and trauma, symptoms and severity of depression varies from person to person because we all feel things differently. Here are 10 common signs associated with depression:
Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in things you once enjoyed (i.e., hobbies, activities, etc.)
Decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling “slowed down”
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Loss of appetite and/or weight loss (or the opposite overeating and weight gain)
Suicidal thoughts or actual suicide attempts
Restlessness or irritability
Types of Depression
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, also known as the DSM-5 for short, provides descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria for approximately 9 different depressive disorders. Of those 9 depressive disorders, the following are the primary ones I see in my office:
Major Depressive Disorder - have you been experiencing at least 5 of the signs and symptoms listed above consistently for at least 2 weeks? If yes and this is uncharacteristic or "out of the norm" for you, then you may be struggling with MDD.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) - have you lost interest in typical daily activities, feel hopeless, feel unproductive, have low self-esteem, or feel inadequate? Are these feelings interfering with your relationships, school, work, or daily activities? Do you have a hard time staying upbeat even during happy occasions? Have others described you as having a gloomy personality or told you that you complain too much or are no fun? If you have been feeling and/or experiencing this for a really long time, like years, you may be struggling with a more chronic form of depression known as Dysthymia.
How I Can Help
I can help you with your depression by:
working on self esteem and self worth issues that contribute to depression with you
teaching you ways to reduce harmful behaviors and replace them with healthy ones
helping you address emotional baggage that contributes to your feelings of sadness
showing you ways to build upon current strengths to help you become your best self