Depression Therapy
Are you finding yourself facing the biggest and seemingly endless case of the “why bothers” you can imagine?
Do you experience persistent fatigue or a lack of energy, even after a full night’s sleep?
Have activities that once brought you joy lost their appeal?
Do you find yourself questioning your value or feeling a sense of worthlessness?
Have you distanced yourself from friends, family, or social activities?
Do you often feel a deep sense of hopelessness and helplessness about the future?
Even When There’s So Much Good In Your Life, Depression Can Still Take Hold
When depression strikes, it’s hard to muster any energy to motivate or to even care. The one sentence that seems to be stuck on repeat in your head is, What’s the point? Getting out of bed, going to work, hanging out with friends—it all feels like too much.
Depression feels like wanting to grab the TV remote that’s three inches away from your hand, but you can’t. Small things, big things, it all just feels so impossible.
Depression can also feel like a heavy blanket which clouds your mind and your thoughts and you feel caught in a never-ending fog. It’s more than just experiencing occasional sadness or feeling down temporarily; depression is a prolonged and severe condition that can significantly impact your daily functioning and quality of life.
What makes depression even more difficult is often there’s a profound sense of guilt that accompanies it. We may find ourselves asking what do I have to be depressed about? I have a great job (or a great family) or (a great life). What’s the matter with me? Why can’t I be more grateful? We’re convinced that other people have it much worse and we don’t deserve to feel the way we do.
Depression doesn’t care if, on the outside, everything seems to look like your life is going great. When depression takes hold, the good stuff doesn’t seem to matter. For some, it barely even registers.
We Live In A Culture That Constantly Encourages Us To Push Through, Be Strong, And Be Okay…
…and the reality is many of us are really not.
There has been an alarming increase in the prevalence of depression and recent reports have shown that 1 in 5 US adults have been diagnosed with depression. This is truly sobering as these reports don’t reflect on the countless numbers of struggling people who never seek help so aren’t even accounted for in this tally.
Depression does not discriminate and can affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It is often caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Significant life events (like divorce, loss of a job, a death) trauma, chronic stress, a family history of depression, and certain medical conditions can also increase the risk of developing depression.
When we’re surrounded by cultural messages to focus on the positive and just be grateful for what we have, it can be easy to push aside or minimize the often weighty and underlying factors that are contributing to depression.
Let's Connect On Managing Your Depression
You Are Not Just Tired
When life feels like a slog to get through, it can be easy enough to convince ourselves we’re just tired. We tell ourselves if we only got more sleep, ate better, and exercised more, things would start to look up again. For some individuals, this is the right remedy for a better outlook on life.
Others might find, though, that in spite of doing all the right things for their health, they still feel an overall lack of energy or spark to do life. Instead, there’s a persistent meh-ness to everything that can look like lack of motivation, procrastination, and a general malaise.
Becoming aware of these signs and symptoms is the first step in moving towards a way out of the pain or discomfort you’ve been in.
Depression Therapy Is The Light At The End of What Has Been A Very Long Dark Tunnel
Therapy can be highly beneficial in the treatment of depression and is often considered a fundamental component in restoring hope and possibility where none existed before.
As your therapist, I will provide a caring and non-judgmental space where you can express your emotions, concerns, and struggles. I will help you explore and understand underlying factors contributing to your depression by examining past experiences, traumas, relationship dynamics, or patterns of negative thinking
During our time, you will also learn effective coping skills to manage depressive symptoms. These skills may include stress management techniques, problem-solving strategies, relaxation exercises, and self-care practices. By acquiring these tools, you can better navigate challenging situations, reduce the impact of stress, and improve your overall well-being.
You Might Still Be Wondering If Depression Therapy Can Really Help:
Wouldn’t it be much easier and quicker to get on depression medication than spend time and money on therapy?
This is a very common misconception about medication. Medication is often a great option and a good first line of defense if you’re struggling with basic day-to-day functioning or having intense thoughts of hopelessness, death, and suicide. Depression medication can provide immediate relief and stabilization of your mood which can increase your daily functioning.
Some of the drawbacks, though, are that medication can have side effects which are not ideal. Medication can also lead to a dependence on them and withdrawal symptoms if you decide to taper off them which you may not prefer to have. Ultimately, medication alone only serves to primarily address the symptoms and not target the root causes of your depression.
Whereas depression medication can be seen as a temporary solution, depression therapy aims to address underlying issues and provide tool and strategies for lasting change. I have 10 years of experience as a depression therapist and have seen first-hand how individuals who engage in therapy can find a life of enjoyment and pleasure.
What if I don’t want to take medication; will depression therapy still be effective?
The decision to take medication is a personal one and, given some of the drawbacks listed above, one I can understand and respect. There are many individuals who opt not to take depression medication and have found seeking support from a depression therapist to be just as effective and, in some cases more effective.
Some individuals report that depression medication makes them feel numb and somewhat disconnected from their emotional experience which can sometimes be a barrier to digging into the heart of things during therapy sessions.
Others opt to try therapy first and may find that supplementing therapy with depression medication helps them to tolerate the intensity of some of the challenging places that therapy may take them. Then there are those who opt to supplement therapy with more holistic and non-medical approaches like acupuncture or body-work and find this approach to be what’s needed to move forward. Whatever path you take, I will support you in customizing a plan of treatment that will ensure the best results.
Isn’t talking about depressing things going to make me feel more depressed?
The goal of therapy is not to make you feel worse but to help you get unstuck and ultimately feel free of the thoughts and emotions that have been weighing you down.
Due to the shame and fear of judgment most people have about their depression, many never talk about it and keep their painful experiences bottled up. When individuals have a safe and non-judgmental space to explore difficult emotions, they often find profound relief in finally being understood.
The other benefit of therapy, is that in therapy we are not merely talking about your depression the way you might with a close friend or family member. In depression therapy, I will be supporting you to identify patterns which may be keeping you stuck, help you build healthy coping skills, and explore and address root causes of your struggle. Unlike general conversation, therapy is goal-oriented and discussions about challenging topics are often aimed at achieving specific objectives.
Break Free From The Chains of Your Depression
Depression doesn’t have to be your story any longer. Hope and happiness is within your reach. If you’re ready to begin working with a depression therapist, I’m here to support you. I offer on-line and in person counseling in San Antonio.
