Depression is a common condition that negatively affects how you feel, think and act. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home. Struggling with depression—whether as a child, teen or adult can be an overwhelming, lonely and confusing experience. Relationships, productivity, performance at work or school, and general wellbeing can be significantly impacted. If you or your child is struggling with depression, you are not alone. Depression is pervasive in our culture, and we all experience the effects depression at some point in our lives either directly or indirectly. It is one of the most common mental health disorders in the U.S., affecting millions of adults, teens and children each year. Fortunately, depression doesn’t have to control or define your life. It is treatable and there are many effective ways to manage symptoms. With the support and guidance of an experienced, compassionate therapist, healing is possible.
Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:
- Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Loss of energy or increased fatigue
- Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others)
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Issues with Self esteem
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
- Thoughts of death or suicide