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What is Depression and How is it Treated?

Sep 01, 2022 - Nancy Ryan, LMFT

You’ve been noticing a change. 

Like a mylar balloon that’s still in the living room weeks after a celebration, the helium – your engagement and excitement about life – has slowly begun to dissipate. You feel hollow and empty, just like the balloon. Flat and unmotivated as you drift along, slowly sinking lower and lower.

Depression is tricky. It can come on little by little, so you don’t notice it right away. Other times it seems to sucker punch you out of nowhere.

Some people who are depressed are still able to function. On the surface, you’d never know how bad they actually feel.

Others can’t get out of bed. 

Depression Defined

So, what is depression?

While there’s no one-size-fits-all definition, according to nimh.nih.gov, if you experience some of these signs almost daily – at least some of the day – for two weeks or more, you could be suffering from depression:

  • Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood

  • Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism

  • Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness 

  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

  • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities

  • Decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling “slowed down”

  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

  • Difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or oversleeping

  • Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes

  • Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause that do not ease even with treatment

  • Suicide attempts or thoughts of death or suicide

Depression can feel as though all the life has been sucked out of you. 

It can make you feel heavy, and is sometimes accompanied by physical unease, such as a hollow, sinking, unrest feeling in your gut. You may also get scary thoughts appearing in your mind, arriving out of nowhere.

When to Seek Treatment for Depression

Depression is not something you can just “snap out” of. When you don’t have the energy or desire to do things you used to enjoy, you may think, “what’s the point?” 

If you’re feeling any of this – or experiencing something else that’s painful and interfering with your enjoyment of life – there is no need to try and “fix” it on your own.

Depression is more common than you may think, and you shouldn’t feel ashamed if you encounter it, or decide to seek help in reaching the other side of it.

Most people understand that if they have cancer, the earlier the intervention, the better the prognosis. 

The same goes for depression. 

The earlier you decide to get help, the better. 

Treating Depression

Seeing a therapist is the best way to start. They will be able to diagnose you, and assess if any other protocol is needed. 

When you see a therapist, you have someone else on your team. You can view them as your sidekick in your quest to feel better. They provide the tools and education, whatever it takes to get you back – and maybe better – than you were before.

One of the best benefits of therapy is it gives us a better understanding of ourselves. We strengthen our relationship to ourselves. 

We may come to understand things differently. 

Overall, this insight gives us strength and resilience. A perspective and presence we may not have uncovered had we not had the guidance and support from an expert in the field.

The longer you put off depression treatment, the more time it has to get comfortable, elbowing its way deeper into more aspects of your life. 

With the help of your therapist, you can finally say, “enough” to depression, and mean it. 

There are many therapists who treat depression, and putting off depression treatment is not something you should do. 

At the Relationship Therapy Center, our therapists understand how crippling depression can be, and are here to help you move through the dark and back into the light. 

We offer free 15-minute consultations, so give us a call. We’d love to chat with you, hear what you’ve been going through, and let you know how we can help.

Begin Depression Treatment in the Sacramento Area:

If you are struggling with depression, you may not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But, With treatment for depression, you can find enthusiasm, hope, and joy again. You don’t just have to cope with depression but you can overcome depression. To begin counseling in Fair Oaks, CA, Roseville, CA, or online therapy in California, please follow these steps:

Other Services offered at The Relationship Therapy Center in California:

In addition to depression treatment, 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: Couples Counseling, Counseling after infidelity, sex therapy, co-parent counseling, family therapy, divorce counseling, intensive couples retreats, and premarital counseling. Our individual therapy services include anxiety treatment, therapy for children, teen therapy, depression treatment, codependency counseling 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.