Do you feel helpless, alone, or overwhelmed? Have you lost your sense of energy, drive, and purpose in life? Are you constantly weighed down by stress and negativity?
If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, you may be struggling with depression.
Depression is one of the most common mental health issues in the United States. More than 1 in 10 adults meet criteria, according to the CDC (2019), which means that you are not alone.
What causes depression?
Depression can come from anywhere.
Sometimes, people can develop depression after a significant life event, such as moving to a new city, getting married or divorced, losing a job, or experiencing the death of a loved one. Sometimes depression can happen before, during, or after pregnancy (also known as perinatal depression). And sometimes, depression can happen “out of the blue,” and often people will say “I should feel happy, but I don’t.”
The symptoms of depression are deeply rooted in your biology. You feel it in your stomach, your head, and your heart because your mind-body is suffering. Depression is a serious medical condition – and fortunately, it is also a treatable one.
How will psychotherapy help with my depression?
When depression sets in, the symptoms tend to interact with one another. The more down and lethargic we feel, the less likely we are to be active or try to connect with others. The less we connect, the lonelier we feel. The more we isolate, the less meaningful life becomes. This creates a problematic cycle, one that makes itself worse.
Over time, as the symptoms feed one another, the depression becomes more and more severe as the cycle continues:
Therapy for depression is specifically designed to help people break the cycle. Therapists provide insight, encouragement and support to help you regain a sense of control, increase feelings of self-worth and purpose, and help you reconnect emotionally and socially.
Specifically, therapists like me who use Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) help you tap into your inner strengths and focus on enhancing your awareness of the present moment. Therapy doesn’t have to be about changing you or “fixing” you. Instead, the goal is to give you a sense of empowerment, equip you with usable skills, and help get your life back on track.
Therapy for depression can help you learn how to:
- Break free from the depression cycle
- Use self-compassion and acceptance
- Practice meditation techniques
- Make progress towards your goals and aspirations
- Deal with thoughts of self-harm and suicide
- Think positively and be mindful
- Be active and have energy
- Cope with stress and worry
- Rediscover your sense of purpose and direction