Depression is a common mental health disorder that significantly impacts one’s mood, thoughts, and overall functioning. It can interfere with work, daily activities, and relationships. While everyone feels sad or down occasionally, experiencing these feelings daily for at least two weeks could indicate clinical depression.
Symptoms of Depression May Include:
-
- Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or emptiness for at least two weeks
- Loss of appetite or overeating
- Difficulty falling asleep or sleeping too much
- Feelings of guilt, failure, worthlessness, or hopelessness
- Slow speech or movement that others notice, or fidgeting and restlessness
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
- Negative mood or outlook
- Difficulty making decisions, concentration issues, or memory problems
- Loss of interest in hobbies or activities
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation
- Physical symptoms unexplained by other disorders, such as fatigue, lack of energy, headaches, digestive issues, or lower pain tolerance
Causes of Depression
Depression does not have a single cause, it can result from a combination of factors. Common causes include:
-
- Trauma (ACE’s, sexual abuse, domestic violence, loss of a loved one, etc.)
- Divorce or breakup
- Financial difficulties, job loss
- Significant health issues such as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease
- Genetic predispositions
Counseling has been proven an effective treatment for depression. Counseling can help with identifying unhealthy habits, learn new ways of thinking, adopt healthy behaviors, and navigate difficult situations or interpersonal relationships that may contribute to depression.