Therapy for Depression

You’re tired of feeling overwhelmed.

You feel stuck at work. Are you trapped in a job that makes you unhappy?

Relationships just don’t feel satisfying.  You just feel disconnected and misunderstood.

Maybe you don’t feel like yourself and have had moments where it feels hopeless.

If this sounds familiar, we want you to know you are not alone, and there is hope.

Counseling Can Help with Depression

It may seem challenging to find your way back to hope and happiness. However, our therapists know you don’t have to live with symptoms of depression. We have spent years helping clients find meaning in life and obtain hope.  Therapy can help you to reconnect with friends or other loved ones. You can find the energy to return to activities and hobbies that were enjoyable before.  You can find meaning in pain. Read our blog post with tips to fight depression during social distancing.

Depression is not your fault.

Just like any other illness, depression is not your fault. You did not cause it. And also, like many other illnesses, helpful treatments exist to help ease and eliminate the struggles you face. Unfortunately, getting better often means asking for help.  If you are ready to overcome your depression, counseling can be a very effective treatment for depression.

There are proven steps and therapies that can result in remarkable relief. We can bring you to hope and help you find a way forward.

Signs of Depression

Depression is more than just sadness. For some people, they do not necessarily feel sad when dealing with depression. Depression is the result of a combination of symptoms. Here are some common symptoms of depression.

Loss of pleasure or interest

Have you found yourself not enjoying the things you use to? Does nothing seem to pique your interest? You may be dealing with anhedonia or loss of pleasure. This is a common feature of depression. While some people may not experience feeling “blue” or “sad,” however, they also do not feel the zest of life or excited. It is like coloring a picture with shades of grey. It just feels “Blah.”

Low-self-esteem

Low self-esteem frequently occurs with depression because depression can make you feel that you are not good enough. Also, it can convince you that other people do not like you. If self-esteem may be an issue you are dealing with, you are not alone.

Difficulty focusing

Have you found yourself rewinding the same part of that movie you’ve been trying to watch? Or re-reading the same passage, because, for some reason, the words are not sinking in? Maybe you decided to go into another room and forgot why you walked into that room in the first place. Depression is draining. So much so that the energy needed to focus, remember, or pay attention is not available when needed. This can lead to more frustration and increase feelings of sadness.

Thinking about death, dying, and suicide

Thinking about death is not uncommon. Mainly when life seems dull, oppressive, or even upsetting, some people find themselves wondering, “what would it be like if I was not here anymore.” When experiencing depression, you might wish that you will not wake up the next day. Just because you think about death or dying does not mean you have suicidal ideation.

Suicidal ideation is imaging yourself ending your own life. Most people will experience some form of suicidal ideation in their life because life can be harrowing. Ending life can seem like a reasonable solution. However, when we are feeling depressed, we can struggle with thinking clearly and seeing other options available to us. Just because you have suicidal thoughts does not mean you need to go to the hospital. However, Concern for suicidal ideation increases as someone thinks about how they can end their life. The seriousness elevates more if the person has a plan, ability, and it seems like they will follow through. If you or someone else is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please contact the national suicide hotline, crisis text line, or the Cuyahoga County Hotline.

Overeating or no appetite at all

Depression can increase or decrease appetite and lead to emotional eating behaviors. Some people lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time, or they gain weight in a short amount of time. Either way, this can impact feelings of self-esteem, energy, motivation, and focus. Which can lead to an increase in depression?

Sleeping all day, or can’t sleep

Sleep the day away or awake all day. Depression can really disrupt sleep patterns. We can help you learn how to clean up your sleep hygiene and improve sleep patterns.

Moving really slow, or can’t settle down

Have you noticed yourself moving much slower than usual? Have other people noticed? You may be experiencing psychomotor slowness. On the other hand, psychomotor agitation is when you seem like you are on the go. Many people do not recognize this symptom as a sign of depression. Some people can become very productive when they are experiencing depression, although there are feelings of emptiness, sadness, or lack of pleasure.

No Energy

It is easy not to have a lot of energy with depression. It’s like power has been “pressed” out of you. We call this anergia. This low energy can impact our ability to stay motivated, connect with others, or finish tasks. This can contribute to procrastination, imposter syndrome, and low-self esteem.

You may be experiencing some of these symptoms or others. If so, counseling can be helpful to you.

Counseling for Depression: What to Expect

You do not need to know the names of all the symptoms you experience. However, it is helpful to write down what you are experiencing, so that you can explain it to your therapist. In your first session, your therapist will ask questions about the duration, frequency, and intensity of your symptoms. This will help them to formulate if you may be dealing with Major Depressive Disorder, Adjustment Disorder, or co-occurring issue. You and your therapist will work together to identify what the problem is. You may be able to uncover the source of depressive feelings. Learn to develop skills and strategies to lead to a happier and more satisfying life.

Begin Therapy for Depression in the Cleveland, OH area

At our Beachwood, OH counseling office, we help people like you overcome their depression every day. It’s difficult to ask for help, but if you’ve made it this far, you probably know it’s time to start counseling.

• • Request an appointment online.

  • We will call you and schedule an appointment with one of our supportive counselors.

  • Begin your path towards happiness and joy.

Other Counseling Services

We provide a range of counseling services at our Counseling Office in the Cleveland area. If you are in Ohio, and cannot come to our Beachwood Office for Therapy, Online Counseling is available for you. Receive treatment for anxiety, self-esteem, grief, emotional eating, Christian Counseling, and more counseling services. We are glad you are here and want to help you make the change that you seek.