If you are struggling with depression the symptoms can seem overwhelming. Depression makes it very difficult to summon the energy to do the things may actually help you feel better. It can be difficult to do the basic things we all need to do like go to work, school or care of young children. It's even harder to get the energy to go out with friends, exercise or even reach out and call someone. For some people the feelings of hopelessness, loneliness and sadness can be so overwhelming you just don't think they will ever pass. Having thoughts of not wanting to live can be a part of depression too. If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or not wanting to wake up it is important to reach out for help. If you have a family member or someone you care about making comments about suicide it is important to take them seriously. Contact a professional right away.

Depression does make it difficult to open up to friends or family about how bad you feel. That usually leads to a cycle of more pain and loneliness and feeling even more hopeless.  Knowing whether these symptoms are true clinical depression or whether you feel this way because of a situation you may going through helps. With clinical depression the sadness, lack of energy, not wanting to do enjoyable things, a change in appetite/sleep and sad/ hopeless feelings are constant for at least three weeks. That means you don't have moments where you feel a little better and then feel bad again but instead it is a constant low. If you are going through a difficult time because of a situation you are going through you may experience all of these symptoms but you do have ups and downs. And the symptoms are always brought on by an outside situation such as your spouse wanting a divorce, the loss of your job, your youngest child leaving home, an illness, etc. There are things you can do help with these feelings. Sometimes just talking to licensed counselor who understands and who you can be open with about how bad you feel is what helps. Most of the time it is a combination of that and taking certain steps that make things better.  Psychotherapy can help with both clinical depression and depressive symptoms due to a difficult situation. Although with clinical depression a combination of medication and talk therapy has been shown to be the most effective form of treatment. If you are going through a difficult time in your life there may be decisions that you need to make that can feel overwhelming, a lot of unknowns that can be scary or underlying beliefs you have that are keeping you stuck. With all of these things, talking to someone can clarify what you can do and help you come to terms with what is out of your control. Therapy can give you the support you need to make positive changes.

Psychotherapy is about providing a safe, nonjudgmental place where you can sort out what got you here. It is also an important in helping yourself out of a depression. An experienced therapist can assess how serious the depression is and guide you in what you can do to help. Understanding the source of why you struggle with sadness and despair is an important part of the process of managing your depression. Many times there are situations we are living through which make us more vulnerable to depression. Also grief can be experienced in situations we may not recognize as a losses. Having someone who is a third party may help point out why you are feeling the way you do. Once you have a clear understanding of these feelings, and are able to express them with someone who is compassionate and is willing to walk through them with you, it is easier to find your way out of that black hole. There are many things that help lift you out of your depression. The things that help you have a great deal to do with why you feel this way. If you have recently ended a marriage or relationship sadness and a feeling of loss is normal. Starting to rebuild your life slowly is something that often helps. If someone close to you has recently died, rebuilding your life may not be something you are ready to do and learning to live the loss may be what helps. If you have always struggled with depression then getting to the root of it is an important part of figuring out what you can do to get out of it.

I have over two decades of experience helping people struggling with depression. I have helped hundreds of clients over the years come out the other side of debilitating depression. Whether you are sad because of the end of a relationship or the loss of someone you love or you have struggled with depression for years I can help. I know that reaching out for help is often the most difficult step and takes courage. But there is a way to change the way you feel. Call my office for a consultation or initial appointment today. You can also call or email me with any questions you might have.