Am I depressed? 

Depression is a common illness and is serious: One in 10 adults reports experiencing depression at some time in their life. This is not just feeling down for a day or two or sad because you have gone through a breakup. Clinical depression can affect you in many ways.  Below is a checklist for you to see if you might be depressed.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Depression?:

Depression’s symptoms vary greatly from person to person and may even change during depression. Common symptoms (though not all) of depression include:

• Frequent crying and overwhelming feelings of sadness.

• Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness.

• Changes in sleep such as excessive sleeping or the inability to sleep.

• Anxiety.

• Anger or Irritability.

• Difficulty enjoying previously-enjoyed activities.

• Unexplained physical ailments such as headaches or muscle pain.

• Difficulty concentrating.

• Changes in weight or eating habits.

• Thoughts of suicide.

Brain chemistry plays a major role and life experiences can also affect brain chemistry. Some people become depressed after experiencing a trauma or stressful life change such as the death of a spouse, a separation or divorce, financial instability, moving, giving birth, or health issues. Everyday stressors can also contribute to depression. Sometimes depression arises as a defense mechanism in order to avoid experiencing painful emotions.

Depression’s symptoms are different from the symptoms related to grief, when feeling emotionally overwhelmed is normal and short term. Depression may be suggested when feelings of despair and sadness upset daily life and last for more than two weeks.

A person experiencing depression may have difficulty coping with daily stressors and may feel helpless and alone. In fact, sometimes the most everyday activities—getting out of bed, bathing, and dressing—can feel like a difficult achievement.

Depression is one of the most common reasons people seek therapy, and the condition is highly treatable. Unfortunately, stigma surrounding depression prevents many people from seeking treatment. Because an individual with depression may see themselves as flawed or weak, they are likely to feel shame about their condition and wish that they could “just snap out of it.”  Depression is hard to overcome by yourself and you just can’t think positive and get over it.

There are a number of therapeutic approaches that are effective in treating depression, including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and psychodynamic therapy. Some do well with therapy alone and others find that they might need medication, but the choice is always up to you. Regardless of the approach, a trained therapist can help a person heal the source of the depression. By getting to the root of the cause, examining thinking patterns, gently accepting new options, looking for strengths and coping with emotions, depression can lift and individuals can resume their lives.

Begin Depression Therapy in the Sacramento Area or Online:

Are you ready to find peace and freedom from depression? We are here to support you and provide high-quality evidence-based  treatment to people in the Sacramento Area and online for people living in the state of California. To begin trauma therapy in Fair Oaks, CA or Roseville, CA, please follow these steps:

1. Reach out to our relationship therapy clinic for a free 15-minute phone consultation to learn more about trauma therapy.
2. Meet with one of our compassionate therapists.
3. Begin depression treatment and regain control in your life.

Other Services Offered at The Relationship Therapy Center in California:

In addition to the depression therapy, our Sacramento area counseling clinics located in Roseville and Fair Oaks, CA are pleased to offer a variety of mental health services. Our couples services include: Counseling after infidelity, sex therapy, co-parent counseling, family therapy, divorce counseling, intensive couples retreats, and premarital counseling. Individual therapy services include, therapy for children, teen therapy, depression treatment, and individual relationship counseling. Our therapists offer online counseling in California to treat a variety of mental health concerns. Please reach out to our Sacramento area therapy office to learn more about the many ways we can help you or your loved ones heal and grow.