Depression Therapists in Charlotte NC
What is Depression?
Depression is a serious yet treatable ailment that can be caused by a number of factors and affects how an individual thinks, feels, and acts. Depression can affect any person at any age – even those who are seemingly living life to the fullest. Most often, however, depression begins in adulthood. Feelings of hopelessness, isolation, and not feeling like your usual self could indicate symptoms of depression. While everyone experiences sadness and grief at some point in their lives, depression is different because it interferes with daily life and lasts for an extended period.
Symptoms and Signs of Depression
If you have had any symptoms and signs of depression or just haven’t been feeling like yourself on an almost daily basis for a minimum of two weeks, we encourage you to contact our office for a free depression therapy consultation. A mental health professional is crucial in the accurate diagnosis of and treatment plan for depression. Depression is a treatable condition, so there is no need to suffer in silence.
Some symptoms and signs of depression are:
- Feeling down, sad, or hopeless the majority of the time
- Losing interest in activities that used to bring you joy
- A noticeable change in your appetite and / or weight
- Sleeping more than usual or less than usual
- Making decisions and concentration have become very difficult
- Feeling guilty or worthless, or feel like you do not deserve good things
- Having thoughts of death or suicide
If you are worried that someone you know may be considering suicide, don’t leave them alone. Try to get them to talk to you about how they’re feeling. If they refuse to speak or say they’re okay, don’t be afraid to ask directly if they are thinking about harming themselves. You can also call a suicide hotline in your area for help and support.
We want you to be aware that you are not alone and that help is available so that you overcome these thoughts. Many of our clients find relief in realizing that they don’t have to struggle by themselves and that there are many options available to once again feel hope and optimism. It gets better!
Did you know that there are different types of depression?
More than 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. It’s one of the most common mental health disorders, causing a wide range of physical symptoms, including changes in appetite and weight. There are several types of depression that a therapist can help diagnose and effectively treat. A few of the most common types of depression are given below.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of depression along with periods of extreme excitement and euphoria (called mania). Typically, it is the periods of mania in between periods of depression that are the basis of Bipolar disorder diagnosis. It is not yet known what triggers the highs and lows of Bipolar Disorder, however studies have shown that a lack of sleep, and external factors such as variants in sun exposure, can sometimes play a role.
Major (Clinical) Depression
Major or Clinical Depression is a quite serious illness that can affect the lives of individuals by altering how they think, how they feel physically, their eating habits, and even their sleep habits. These not only affect the person’s personal life, but can have effects on their professional lives as well.
Psychotic Depression
Psychotic Depression is a type of severe depression in which the individual experiences delusions and hallucinations that are most often directly related to the depression. Psychotic depression can also result in a person having increased suicidal thoughts.
Postpartum Depression
Also referred to as postpartum disorder, postpartum depression is triggered by the hormonal and lifestyle changes experienced after childbirth. Typically, these symptoms fade after a few weeks or months, and include mood swings and increased anxiety. In rare cases, however, the illness is severe enough to cause the mother to experience psychotic episodes and cause harm to the baby.
Studies have shown that at times, these symptoms can begin during pregnancy. When this happens, it is diagnosed as Peripartum depression.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
As the name suggests, Seasonal Affective Disorder is triggered by the shift in seasons. SAD typically begins during the fall when the days get shorter and nightfall begins earlier. SAD can be characterized by lethargy, weight gain, oversleeping, or hypersomnia, a condition that causes a person to be overly sleepy throughout the day, despite having had a full night’s sleep or longer.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a treatment process that enables patients to change their thoughts so that they can feel better and behave in a more positive way.
The fundamental assumption is that thoughts come before an emotion; and therefore, learning to substitute positive thoughts for negative thoughts will improve a person’s mood, self-concept, and behavior. Numerous studies have demonstrated that cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for depression either as a primary approach or in conjunction with other evidence-based therapies.
If you are struggling with depression, our conselors at Montgomery Counseling Group are here for you, and understand that it can be difficult to admit that you are feeling depressed and need help.
We offer various services to help you on your journey to recovery, including individual counseling, group therapy, and medication management. We want to support and care for our clients through this difficult time in their lives. If you are feeling down and would like to feel better, please contact us today for a free consultation. We can help you discover the benefits of depression therapy.