Depression is a mood disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It can cause persistent feelings of sadness and emptiness, making it difficult to carry out daily tasks. This condition is commonly known as Major Depressive Disorder or Clinical Depression and can impact an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Seeking professional help is essential to manage depression and improve one’s overall well-being. At Puglisi Counseling, our licensed therapists provide evidence-based treatments for depression, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based interventions. We offer confidential and personalized services in Northeast Pennsylvania, helping individuals overcome depression and live a fulfilling life.
Depression is a widespread mental health diagnosis affecting millions of Americans each year. It’s often considered an invisible illness since individuals with depression may appear to be leading a “normal” life. However, depression can take many forms and impact an individual’s daily functioning.
Although some individuals may be more susceptible to developing depression, it can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or race. It’s crucial to seek help from mental health professionals if you experience symptoms of depression.
Common symptoms of depression include sadness, lack of motivation, loneliness, confusion, and loss of pleasure in activities. These symptoms can be severe enough to disrupt daily functioning and can make even simple tasks feel impossible.
It’s important to understand that depression doesn’t always look like increased sadness. In fact, individuals suffering from depression may display a range of emotions including shame, irritation, and uncontrollable anger. Additionally, depression can cause physical symptoms such as unexplained body aches, increased lethargy, and even nausea. In some cases, those experiencing depression may feel emotionally numb or empty. It’s important to remember that depression is never a normal experience, and it’s essential to seek treatment to improve your mental health and overall well-being.
Depression is often surrounded by misconceptions. It is essential to not only understand what depression is but also what it is not. Depression is not a simple case of sadness that can be cured with positive thinking. Many individuals experience depressive episodes and feel like their emotions do not exist. Here are some myths about depression that need to be debunked:
You don’t have to let depression control your life. It’s common for individuals with depression to feel hopeless about the future and trapped in a never-ending cycle of negative emotions. But there is hope. With the right treatment, the vast majority of individuals with depression can experience significant improvement in their symptoms.
Understanding the potential causes of depression is essential to identifying effective treatments. Here are some key factors to consider:
It’s important to note that depression is not the same as normal grieving. While grief is a natural response to loss, depression is a more persistent and pervasive mental health condition that affects all aspects of a person’s life. Some key differences include:
At Puglisi Counseling, we understand that depression can greatly impact one’s life, but it’s important to know that help is available. We have a team of licensed clinicians who specialize in psychotherapy and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who can prescribe medication when needed.
Our clinicians work from various therapeutic interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). During therapy sessions, your clinician will work with you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a holistic approach to overcome the negative symptoms of depression. Together, you will explore the negative core beliefs that have developed and may be stopping you from experiencing self-worth and positive emotions.
In addition to exploring your thoughts and emotions, we can teach you necessary coping skills that will help you actively improve your symptoms and decrease negative emotions. Depression is a common and treatable mental health diagnosis, and with the right therapeutic approach, you can find improvement. We believe that everyone deserves to feel happy and that you are enough just the way you are.
If you’re struggling with depression, reach out to us for support. We offer mood disorder and depression therapy in Northeast Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties. Our team is here to help you overcome depression and live your fullest life.
