depression counseling
is it depression?
Sometimes people can feel sad, down or sluggish for no particular reason other than just feeling out of sorts for a day or two. Other times a brief period of sadness could be in response to a disappointment or let down. These reactions are just a part of normal fluctuations or responses in life. So when should you be concerned the sadness you’re experiencing could be something more serious?
A diagnosis of depression (major depressive disorder) is made taking three key components into account: number of symptoms, duration, and impact on functioning. You may hear people say “depression” or “clinical depression” to describe the condition; often what they mean by this is a diagnosis of depression, or more formally major depressive disorder. This diagnosis is determined by a mental health professional or physician because of the need to be sure the diagnosis is accurate given the presentation. There are different types of depression. Additionally, there are medical conditions that can masquerade as depression. A visit to your primary care physician or gynecologist can be helpful in ruling out problems like thyroid imbalances or hormone changes that could account for the symptoms. If your medical provider has completed their assessment, and you are still struggling, it may be helpful to talk with a psychologist or counselor.
What are the symptoms of depression?
There are 9 possible symptoms of depression. For a diagnosis of depression someone would need to have 5 out of the 9 symptoms, at minimum. Also, these symptoms would need to be present for a minimum of 2 weeks and interfere with life functioning in some meaningful way.
Many people may experience symptoms like: sad mood, lack of interest in things once enjoyed, appetite disturbance with weight changes, sleep disturbance, a sluggishness or hyperactivity that even others notice, fatigue, worthlessness or guilt, indecisiveness or poor concentration, or thoughts of death or dying up through suicidality.
Having one or two of these symptoms on occasion, depending on the severity and situation, may just be a part of being human. When the combination of symptoms is strong and life functioning is impacted, it may be time to seek assistance or at least an assessment to better understand the changes.
online depression treatment is available
in colorado, florida, maryland, & pennsylvania
Depression is an awful state to experience but the good news is that depression is treatable. One of the most effective therapies for depression is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT for short. CBT is a technique utilized by AROSE eTherapy given its effectiveness as proven in the research literature.
online Cognitive behavioral therapy
for the treatment of depression
With CBT the emphasis is on changing thoughts and behaviors that are contributing to the depressive state. Depression can lead people into a negative downward spiral but the good news is that cognitive and behavioral interventions can break this cycle and help you to start feeling better, step by step.
To change thoughts, you will work with your online counselor to identify the negative self-talk you may be engaging in, unknowingly. You will learn specific strategies and exercises to increase your awareness of your thoughts, monitor your mood, look for patterns so that you know what patterns to break, and begin to introduce thoughts that are more balanced.
Depression leads to a tendency to view experiences in a particularly negative light that may not be objectively accurate. In challenging negative thinking and negative values and beliefs that have developed, you’ll begin to chip away at depressive strongholds.
To change behaviors, the emphasis will be on what’s called, behavioral activation. Your depressive mindset is telling you to stay in bed, not bother with grooming or activities, and to avoid people.
Together with your online counselor for depression you will identify activities you used to engage in and enjoy. Little by little you will develop a plan to re-engage with those activities, feeling better with each action you take.
Your depressive mind will tell you not to bother, but with the support of your online therapist, you’ll come to find that once you take actions, an upward spiral will begin and will eventually override the downward pull.
begin online therapy for
depression treatment
in colorado, florida, maryland, and pennsylvania
The benefit of working with an online psychologist in this process is the opportunity to also take a deeper look at what may have lead to the depressive state to begin with. In this way you can shift thoughts and behaviors so that hopefully you avoid slipping back into a state of depression in the future. Please don’t suffer another day. Reach out to Schedule a Free 15 Min Consult. There is no risk. If AROSE eTherapy is not a good match for you, we’ll work with you to find other options.
