Get Help for Depression

Get help for depression. Everyone feels low occasionally. Whether it’s through exhaustion or a reaction to emotionally draining events, no one feels mentally 100% at all times. However, sometimes a persistent low mood can be a sign of a deeper problem such as depression or anxiety. How can you tell when natural ups and downs are turning into something more serious? Mental health issues affect around one in four people at some point in their lives. It’s far more common than most people think, and yet it’s not always easy to recognize the signs for what they are. These are the signs to look out for.

Depression isn’t a simple reaction to events. If you’re always feeling low, even without any clear cause, this should be a warning sign. This is especially true if this is a significant change from your usual character.

Don’t ignore the change if you’re no longer gaining pleasure from activities you used to enjoy. Losing interest in your normal hobbies and pastimes is another strong sign of something more than natural mood cycles. Ypu start to loose interest in things that once excited you.

Depression often results in a desire to stay at home and avoid company. Whether you were previously a party animal or a confirmed homebody, take note if you’re increasingly turning down invitations to social events. You would rather be left alone.

Depression and anxiety can affect sleep patterns in either direction. Some people find it hard to summon any energy and spend increasing amounts of time in bed. Others find insomnia becoming a serious problem. Any drastic change in your sleeping habits should be discussed with your doctor, as there could be several mental or physical reasons.

Sleep problems can, of course, lead to tiredness, but depression can also cause feelings of fatigue no matter how much sleep you get. It’s especially important to recognize this signal if you start to feel guilty about your lack of energy and reduced ability to get things done.

If you’re finding it harder to pay attention at work, during social situations, or even just watching TV, it could be down to simple fatigue. However, it could also be the effect of depressive and anxious thoughts making it hard to focus on anything else.

Just as with sleeping patterns, your weight can be changed in two ways by depression and anxiety. Some people find themselves turning to food for comfort and put on extra weight, while other people lose their appetite and eat far less. In either case, speak to your doctor, if nothing else to rule out any physical cause.

Some people are naturally their own worst critics, but if you can never seem to measure up to your own expectations, it’s time to give yourself a break. These negative thoughts can be both the symptom and cause of depressive episodes.

If you find yourself imagining the worst possible outcome for every situation, you’re probably suffering from an anxiety-related thought pattern known as catastrophization. Constantly expecting disaster is common in depression sufferers, but can be addressed with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Lastly, you may find yourself thinking increasingly about death. It’s natural to dwell on mortality more as you get older, but it shouldn’t start to turn obsessive. This is especially important if you’ve noticed any other signs alongside this new morbidity.

Get Help for Depression

However, if you’re noticing any of these issues in your daily life, strongly consider seeking out a medical opinion. The earlier you do so, the easier and quicker recovery will be. Another great add on is to seek therapy with a licensed mental health counselor. What are the advantages of working with a therapist when your depressed?

How Can Therapy Help With Depression

Psychotherapy can help tremendously with people sufferring from depression.

• You will start to understand the false narratives, behaviors, and emotions, that are contributimg to your depression.
• A therapist can help you to start to understand and help you to identify life problems orthose events leading to depression. Some of which are: Death in a family, loss of job, divorce, low self esteem, childhood trauma and neglect, personality traits to name a few.
• Help you to regain control of your life and rediscover the pleasures in it.
• Learn to go beyond just coping skills and discover who you really are seperate from the outside enviornment.
• Understand your programming. You are not your mind.

At High Expectations Counseling we have a team of talented therapist ready to assist you. Give us a call today for a free 15 min phone consultation. We want you to find the right fit. Don’t think you have to do it alone. We are here to support you and help you transition back to living a full and meaningful life.

Originally published at https://lifecounselingorlando.com on November 15, 2022.