Depression

Depression is experienced by about 40% of the U.S. population and for many of us it is an understandable response to a situation, it lasts only a limited period of time, and it is bearable.   However, I have seen and helped many people for whom depression has become more of a burden than they want to carry.  What I want to emphasize is that depression is treatable.

Depression comes in different forms and there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity, and persistence. Some types of depression run in families and often there appears to be a biological component to depression. Some people have a single episode of depression, but many people have episodes that recur.

Depression is characterized by varying degrees of sadness, disappointment, loneliness, hopelessness, guilt, self-doubt and lowered confidence and self-esteem.  These feelings can very intense and can persist for long periods of time.

Daily activities become more difficult and your quality of life is diminished.   Depression can affect almost every aspect of your life.  It can affect the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, the way you think, and the way you feel about, and interact with, others.

The causes of depression are likely to be different for each person. Depression may be directly related to a significant event in your life such as losing a loved one, experiencing trauma, or battling a chronic illness, but you may find that the depressions lasts longer than you think it should. At other times, depression seems to appear out of nowhere and has no apparent direct cause.

Changes in the your body's chemistry influence mood and thought processes, and biological factors contribute to depression. Sometimes the circumstances involved in depression are ones over which you have little or no control while at other times you may have the ability to control a situation but your inability to see the choices or make decisions leads to further problems. Very often, a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors is involved in the onset of depression.

Depression affects people of all ages, income, race, and cultures.  Women experience depression about twice as often as men; however, depression in men is too often masked by alcohol or drugs, by working excessively long hours, and by anger and irritability.

Depression in the elderly is an increasing area of concern. Depression in the elderly can cause needless suffering for the family and for the individual. Old age itself does not cause depression and there is no reason for the elderly to accept depression as a part of their life.

Although depression is highly responsive to treatment, there are many suffers who do not seek help because in their current depressed state they do not think anything will help or they see their depression as a sign of weakness rather than as a sign that something is not in balance.

A depressive disorder involves the body, emotions, thoughts, and behavior. Without the proper help and treatment, depression can last for months or years. Treatments such as antidepressant medications and psychotherapy can reduce and sometimes eliminate the symptoms of depression.

I have helped my clients to learn to recognize their patterns of depression and develop more effective ways to cope with them. Through traditional psychotherapy, Reality Therapy, and Cognitive Therapy I provide clients the opportunity to identify the factors that contribute to their depression and to deal effectively with the psychological, behavioral, interpersonal and situational causes.  Some clients find it helpful to combine their therapy with anti-depressant medication prescribed by their physician. 

Ultimately the success of treatment depends the match between you and your therapist, your motivation to change, and on factors such as the type of depression, its severity, and how long you have had problems with depression.

For more information about depression, please click on the linked websites listed below.

"If you really want help dealing with your feelings and emotions, changing your behavior, and improving your life, I will be happy to help you.  I am available almost any time and any place.  You can call me directly and there is no cost or obligation for the initial telephone consultation.  Or you can reach me by email.  I look forward to the possibility of helping you to improve your life."   Dr. Vince Berger