What is depression?
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Everyone feels sad or “blue” on occasion. Sometimes there’s a reason, sometimes not. We usually cope – maybe by talking to a family member or friend, but don’t otherwise need any help. However, in depression your feelings don’t lift after a few days – they carry on for weeks or months and are so bad that they interfere with your life.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 17 million adult Americans suffer from depression during any 1-year period.
Depression is a common but serious mood disorder.
- Depression is a real illness
- Depression is treatable
- It can take courage to ask for help
- Treatment can make all the difference in the world
Depression manifests itself in different ways in different people.It is important to visit your family doctor who can evaluate your depression and determine the best treatment approach for you.
Clinical depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Depression can happen to anyone, at any age, and to people of any race or ethnic group. Depression is not a ‘normal’ part of life.
What are the basic signs and symptoms of depression?
The criteria psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals use for for diagnosing depression are defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR).
According to the DSM-5-TR a person is suffering from a major depressive episode if he or she experiences items 1 or 2 from the list of symptoms below, along with and four others, continuously for more than two weeks.
- A persistent low or sad mood
- Apathy-loss of interest and pleasure in activities formerly enjoyed interest in almost all activities
- Sleep problems- insomnia, early morning waking, or oversleeping nearly every day.
- Decreased energy or fatigue
- Noticible changes in appetite and weight ( significant weight loss or gain)
- Inability to concentrate or think, or indecisiveness
- Physical symptoms of restlessness or being physically slowed down
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, or a suicide attempt.
Depression can be successfully treated
Treatment for depression usually involves a combination of drugs, talking therapies and self help. Treatment is based on the type of depression you have.
Our Psychologist can help you manage your depression
Antidepressant have historically been presented as offering fast, easy relief. The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for people with mild symptoms of depression recommends psychotherapy (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) and exercise in the first instance,and to consider medication if these approaches do not offer sufficient relief.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy(CBT) is an evidence based therapy. It is one of the most effective treatments for conditions where anxiety or depression is the main problem.
At Tri-City Psychology Services our psychologist uses evidence based therapies.
How does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy help?
CBT is a way of talking about:
- how you think about yourself, the world and other people
- how what you do affects your thoughts and feelings.
CBT can help you gain a better understanding of overwhelming problems by breaking them down into smaller parts. How you think about a problem can affect how you feel physically and emotionally. It can also alter what you do about it. There are helpful and unhelpful ways of reacting to most situations, depending on how you think about them.
It’s easy to take the first step to manage your depression
Depression can seriously interfere with a person’s ability to function in everyday situations. CBT can help you to control the symptoms. Come and see us for a full consultation. You can discuss your symptoms, how you are feeling and your concerns in complete confidentiality. We understand it is not always easy to talk about how you feel especially if you are worried that others may dismiss your concerns. At Tri-City Psychology Services you can feel assured that our psychologists will really listen to you and work with you to find and understand the cause of your depression and manage it in the way that works best for you. Depression, even the most severe cases, can be effectively treated.The earlier that treatment can begin, the more effective it is.
As depression manifests itself in different ways in different people it is important to visit your family doctor who can evaluate your depression and determine the best treatment approach for you.
