Could you need depression counseling with Empower Counseling and not know it?
In a word, YES.
Depression Can Be Sneaky; Could you need depression counseling
Depression can be sneaky. Depression can take hold of you so gradually
that you do not know you are depressed. Most people assume that depression is always easy to identify- a pervasive sadness that will not subside. Depression can look like that. But depression has many different symptoms. It can look one way with one person and look completely differently in another.
Maybe if you are reading this blog post you know something just isn’t right but are not sure what it is.
Depression can look like….
Never feeling like you have had enough sleep, even when you know you have.
On the other hand, depression can look like insomnia, struggling to get any sleep.
Not caring about the things you used to care about.
Not finding joy in anything.
I have heard many women who are depressed say, “I am not depressed, I just don’t feel like doing anything. I have no motivation.”
Women are twice as likely to experience dysthymia, a persistent low-level form of depression, than men. As women, we tend to tell ourselves things like, “I have a good life. I have no business complaining or feeling this way.” Or “I don’t have any real problems, so I should be able to suck it and feel better myself.”
Here is the thing. Depression, if left untreated, can have a serious effect on the brain, making it more likely to have future bouts with depression. So let’s get all of the sneakier signs of depression out in the open. Here are some less appreciated signs or signals of depression:
General apathy or lack of pleasure
Feelings of guilt
Pessimistic outlook
Low sex drive
Fatigue
Headaches
Digestive disorders
Irritability
Behaviors masking Depression:
Some other sneaky signs of depression, can be found in behaviors. If you are shopping more than usual, or eating more than usual, maybe you are trying to mask depression. If you are working more than usual or drinking more alcohol, you may be attempting to mask depression.
There is evidence that therapy works as well as antidepressants. Antidepressants can also be very helpful, and sometimes necessary, depending on the severity of the depression.
Could you need depression counseling?
If you think you have any signs or symptoms of depression, it is important to seek help. Your mood is not the only thing depression is affecting. Depression can be harmful to your physical health. Depression suppresses your immune system, raises your risk of heart disease and can negatively affect fertility. If depression is left untreated, it is likely to come back, be more severe when it does, and harder to treat.
If you think you might be depressed, reach out to our compassionate, knowledgeable counselors. Kathryn, Adam, and Kristine are all trained in Acceptance Commitment Therapy. Acceptance Commitment Therapy, or ACT for short, is a scientifically proven effective method of treating depression. Any one of our counselors can help you become aware of the thoughts contributing to your depression and teach you mindfulness techniques to let go of your unhelpful thoughts. We will help you find clarity about what you value and the behaviors that will move you toward your values and who you want to be.
Empower Counseling serves Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia, Hoover and all of Birmingham with in-person counseling and online counseling. We offer individual counseling for teens, college students, young adults, and professionals.
Don’t let depression keep you down. Call Empower today at 205-730-6570