꩜ Depression
Depression takes different forms, and they all suck the life out of you. Some people are able to put one foot in front of the other even when depressed - but they are still depressed.
This includes feeling sad or empty, not enjoying things that you used to or would enjoy normally, crying, thoughts of death and/or suicide, and not seeing a way out. Many people’s depression is hidden by anger, people pleasing, or other masks they put on to hide the fact that they feel sad and empty.
I’ve been there and can show you the way out.
Sometimes depression is an episode with a starting point we can easily identify. Sometimes it’s more like a wave that gets bigger and smaller but is usually there. Either way, the goal is to feel alive and optimistic about life moving forward.
Depression is what brought me to therapy when I was 16. We called it anger, but under that wall-punching exterior was a very sad and lost person. My therapist helped me feel heard and valued. She made sure to help me see that I was a good person who had more power than I thought. I also had to deal with things that led to the depression. That’s not easy, but with help is absolutely doable. My job is to help you out of the darkness and find your path.
People ask about medication, and my short answer is that is totally up to you if you want to try anti-depressants. For some people they give a temporary boost that makes it easier to take action. Very often such medication is best served as a short-term relief as the person establishes a healthy lifestyle and works things out in therapy - then the medication is no longer needed. However, medication in itself rarely has lasting effects. I strongly believe that if your life is depressing on paper, you will be depressed. Therapy is to help let go of the internal battle of depression while providing guidance to create a life you enjoy!
Treating depression is really a personalized approach. We may discover that there is some deep work needed in order to connect with yourself and live a fulfilling life. Maybe it’s more about needing to find meaning and start on a fulfilling path to squash depression. I’m here to help you move past depression and leave it in the past for good!