Is depression your constant companion?

People often seek out therapy because they are feeling depressed. Did you know that anxiety could also be a symptom of depression?

Depression sometimes occurs because of external events such as:

• Loss of a relationship
• Loss of a job
• Death of a loved one
• Child moving out
• Any kind of major life change

While a reaction of depression to the above situations is perfectly normal, one should seek help if the depression is out of proportion to the event or lasts a long time.

How do you know if you’re depressed and not just sad?

Sadness is a normal reaction to everyday events that are disappointing, unfulfilling, turn out markedly different then we had expected, experiencing a loss, etc. When we feel sad we feel “down”. Depression goes much deeper than that. Some symptoms of depression are:

• Loss of appetite or increase in appetite
• Anxiety
• Loss of energy or frequently feeling fatigued
• Loss of interest in doing things we once enjoyed
• Loss of interest in sex
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Difficulty controlling anger
• Physical discomfort
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Low self-esteem

If you have been feeling any of the above for more than a few weeks, it’s probably time to call a therapist.

Please call or email me to discuss your depression so that together we can make a plan that will work for you.