Are You Feeling Weighed Down By Symptoms Of Depression? 

Does it seem as though you’re constantly struggling to get through the day, burdened by the demands of life? Are you exhausted and unmotivated? Have your relationships been impacted by emotional numbness and an inability to connect?

Perhaps you feel so tired, your body aches in pain due to exhaustion. Unmotivated to do anything, you may feel like you’re walking in glue. And after taking care of everyday things like going to work or grocery shopping, you don’t have energy for anything else. 

Symptoms of depression, like fatigue and indifference, have probably impacted your relationships with friends and family. Maybe you are no longer fulfilled by your interactions, or often feel lonely in a crowded room. Now, after a period of social isolation, you may act alienated in the presence of others, unsure of yourself. 

Even though you’re sad, you don’t have tears to cry. You just feel alone, isolated, and hopeless. All you want is to return to a sense of normalcy and regain the energy you need to get through the day. 

Something other than flat nothingness exists, and it is possible to feel pleasure and joy again. With treatment, you can learn how to navigate and overcome symptoms of depression. 

Periods Of Loss And Transition Can Result In Depression

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared clinical depression as the leading cause of disability worldwide. Studies show that nearly 4 percent of all adults struggle with depression—that’s 280 million people across the globe.

Genetics often lead to the onset of depression. However, situational stressors—including grief, loss, and major transitions—often lead to symptoms of depression. It makes sense then that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many of us to notice increasing and intensified feelings of hopelessness and despair. 

Many of us were overwhelmed by work, family obligations, and other responsibilities to begin with, but the uncertainty and disconnect brought on amongst panic and social isolation have escalated feelings of depression. 

Depression Creates A Cycle That Perpetuates Itself

We often believe that if we could simply adjust our mindset and change how we think about things, we would feel better. But when we don’t improve, we start to believe that something is wrong with us. 

Caught up in this cycle of self-doubt and despair, we eventually get stuck in patterns that further perpetuate symptoms of depression, telling ourselves, “There’s no way out.” Yet when we are confined to this mode of thinking, it becomes increasingly difficult to see that it’s the depression itself that’s speaking—not the capable, functional person within who is worthy of happiness. 

A therapist can help you see how depression has distorted your thoughts and feelings. With treatment at Surf Ridge Counseling, you can learn to understand your symptoms and chart the path forward out of the patterns depression has created. 

Treatment Gives You An Opportunity To Listen To And Heal The Parts Of Yourself Impacted By Depression

As a human, you contain many parts—parts that are funny, creative, sad, and hopeful—among the whole range of human emotions that you can feel on any given day. As your therapist, I will help you identify the many parts, both welcome and not, that make you uniquely you. Working with me will allow you to better understand how to tune in and listen to each part of yourself with curiosity and compassion. 

With this clarity, you’ll be better equipped to manage and cope with depression. 

What Does Depression Treatment At Surf Ridge Counseling Look Like? 

My approach to therapy works best for those who are looking to get to the core of their issues, seeking out meaningful solutions. Working together, we can uncover the cause of your depression as you gain coping skills to help you suffer less and move forward in your life. 

Before we get started in therapy, I will ask you to fill out an intake form ahead of time to get a sense of your depression symptoms and goals for treatment. I will use that information in conjunction with our first session to learn more about your story and how I can help. 

From there, I will use a combination of evidence-based treatment approaches to understand and target your depression. 

Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy can help you map out your inner parts as you discover the root causes of your feelings. By learning to listen to and accept the part of yourself that struggles with depression, you’ll be better equipped to manage symptoms. In addition, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a particularly common treatment for depression, as it allows you to adjust your relationship to your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. 

With the tools you gain in therapy, you’ll have a chance to really hear what your inner monologue has been telling you and align the parts of yourself that are out-of-whack. As you reconnect with your whole self, you’ll have the information you need to release the burden of sadness. 

I know you’re tired of being tired. But just the fact that you’re considering treatment for depression proves that there is a part in there that is hopeful that you will get better—and you can. Understanding, managing, and overcoming your symptoms is possible, and with therapy at Surf Ridge Counseling, you can move out of the flat desert of depression and into a life of happiness and productivity.

Maybe You’re Interested In Treating Your Depression, But You Still Have Questions…

I worry about what others will think of me if I seek therapeutic treatment for depression. 

Therapy gives you an opportunity to listen to and relieve the part of yourself perpetuating worry and self-doubt. In doing this, you can start to understand that while you can’t control what others think of you, you can control your response to them. 

Therapy is entirely confidential, governed by federal HIPPA law. This means that, with a few exceptions that we will discuss during the intake, I cannot share anything disclosed during our sessions to anyone else. Surf Ridge Counseling is a safe space, where you can feel safe and comfortable to explore your depression without judgment or expectation. 

Can medication be helpful in treating my depression?

Medication is certainly an option for those who struggle with clinical depression created by an imbalance in the brain. However, medication tends to mask symptoms (instead of relieving them) and only targets depression for as long as you use it. 

Therapeutic treatment, on the other hand, gives you a chance to learn lifelong skills for understanding your emotions and coping with depression. Moreover, studies show that depression medication is most effective when it’s paired with talk therapy.

How long will I be in therapy for depression? When will I feel better?

Everyone responds to therapy differently. The time spent in treatment very much depends on your symptoms and history with depression. Some of my clients can trace back to the root of their challenges rather quickly, while others have more layers to work through. 

Regardless, I will remain solution-focused throughout our sessions so that you can find relief as soon as possible. .

You Don’t Have To Carry The Burden Of Depression Any Longer

If life feels exhausting and heavy, therapeutic treatment at Surf Ridge Counseling can help you escape the quicksand of depression and find hope again. 

To schedule a free, 15-minute consultation to find out more about how I can help, please email me or call (828) 237-2887.

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