Have you ever asked yourself what is depression? And do I have it?
Yes, we’re going there! We are doing some deep diving this month around topics that we think are uber important to discuss.
Depression is one of those words (like anxiety) we throw around, but may not fully understand what it is.
I’m depressed, she’s depressed, they must be depressed, etc…
But really, what is depression?
Depression is “a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living.”
I would also add that we all feel moments of sadness and/or a low feeling. Depression is not an occasional shit day but rather a persistent long-term feeling of sadness, lasting for more than 3 months at a time.
Some physical symptoms of depression that you may feel every day, sometimes multiple times a day could be:
- Tiredness, lethargy
- Feelings of sadness, despair
- Angry outbursts that feel out of context
- Anxiety and/or restlessness
- Can’t fall asleep or stay asleep
- Body aches and pains that are unexplained
- Thoughts of death, ending things or just not wanting to be here
Obviously not everyone will experience all the things but just having some of these most of the time, makes for a yucky existence.
If you have a daughter who you believe could be clinically depressed, the symptoms will be similar but could also include:
- Refusal to go to school and/or activities that they used to love
- Focusing on weight and food in a hyper focus way
- Sleeping too much
- Relationship difficulties
- Expressing hopelessness
- Cutting or self-harming
If you or your child are experiencing any of these symptoms in a consistent way, now is a good time to get some extra support by finding a therapist for her and/or for you.
We also recommend taking yourself or your child to a local hospital if you or they are feeling suicidal persistently and overwhelmingly. This can be a good way to get instant eyes on your situation and begin designing your treatment plan (this includes therapy and medication). Medication can be very effective in treating depression so we always will recommend you make an appointment with your primary doctor or a psychiatrist to help with this piece as well.
Most therapists are trained in treating depression. At Empowered Connections, we’ve found using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) are the most effective treatment methods for helping you or your child get through depression. You can help them not only manage symptoms but also inject some hope within you and her, as well as give you solid coping skills to help you both course correct.
We have therapists in our newest location in Bethesda Maryland who are specially trained to help women and girls in treating depression. We can see you not only in person but also virtually, so there’s no good reason not to make an appointment. Our other two locations have experts as well if that’s better for you (Leonardtown and Dunkirk). You can also schedule here RIGHT NOW! As always, we’ve got you!
