Are Sadness And Fatigue Negatively Impacting Your Life?

Do you feel down and depleted?  Are you persistently sad, irritable, or frustrated?  Do you struggle to put one foot in front of the other to complete daily tasks? Have you noticed that you need to make changes but you can’t find the energy, motivation, or interest to do what you need to do?

Perhaps you feel uninterested in the things that used to bring you pleasure or you have lost interest in connecting with people you love and care about.  You may have turned to drugs, alcohol, sex, or shopping to help ease the burden, but you know you aren’t addressing the root of the problem.
 

Do you wonder sometimes if this is all life has to offer and wish you could find the desire and energy to engage meaningfully again in your life?

Depression Is One Of The Most Common Mental Health Challenges Individuals Face Today

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States.  In 2014, an estimated 15.7 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in the past year. This number represented 6.7% of all U.S. adults. But, because depression is not often openly discussed, many people feel alone, isolated, and ashamed of the challenges they are facing, suffering in silence and struggling to seek or commit to proper treatment.

While some men and women struggle throughout their lives with depression, many others experience situational depression after a trauma, loss, or significant life event.  Depression symptoms may vary from persistent and/or overwhelming feelings of sadness and loneliness to irritability, frustration, fatigue, and even thoughts of self-harm or suicide.  It may feel like no matter how much you want to change your situation, you have little motivation or energy to do so.

Whether depression is new to you or a familiar and unwelcome companion, it is a treatable condition.  With my guidance and support, you can learn to understand depression and find relief and a renewed capacity to engage with yourself, your surroundings, and the people in your life.

Depression Treatment Can Give You Hope To Engage the World In a Meaningful Way

In a safe, supportive environment, you and I will work together to explore your feelings so that you can claim your emotional experience, an important step in relieving the suppression of emotions that accompanies depression. We will explore the origins of your depression so that you can build a healthy, more peaceful relationship with the events that may have triggered its onset. Through this exploration you will come to embrace yourself and your emotional experience in a deeply profound way.  You will find again, or maybe for the first time, a sense of self-acceptance that will allow you to more effectively navigate the emotional ups and downs of your life and learn to engage with yourself, your work, your relationships, and your community in a more deeply authentic and satisfying way.

But I still have questions about depression treatment:

Does depression treatment require me to take medication?

While medication can be a helpful tool to mitigate depression symptoms, it is not required to participate in treatment.  Depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance, and in some cases medication may provide a platform from which you feel well enough to engage in and benefit from depression counseling.  Some studies suggest that therapy in combination with medication is an effective form of depression treatment, but the choice to take medication is up to you.  You and I can discuss whether medication is something you want to pursue as we work together to help mitigate your depression symptoms.

Depression Stones - Lydia Mendoza - SacramentoHow do I know that my depression will not just pass on its own?

It is possible that your discomfort may pass on its own. But, if the message on this page reached you in any way, you may benefit from depression treatment or counseling.  Depression counseling can help you recognize, understand, and create a relationship with your emotional experience so that, should you find yourself struggling with depression again, you will feel better equipped and more capable of coping with difficult emotions and managing uncomfortable symptoms.  And, if depression is already impacting your life, depression treatment can help you find your way back to emotional balance so you can feel more comfortable and satisfied as you live your life.

I’m not sure I have the energy or motivation to try depression counseling.

Many symptoms of depression – like fatigue, hopelessness, or lack of energy – can make it difficult to find and commit to depression treatment. As a result, many individuals are hesitant to try depression counseling even if they know that they need guidance and support.  I understand how difficult it can be to allow another person into your emotional experience.  Recent studies suggest, however, that the relationship developed between therapist and client is an essential element in managing and recovering from depression.  I invite you to allow yourself to explore what treatment would look like for you.  In simply reaching out and speaking with me, you may find your symptoms lessen and discover that you are ready to take the next step toward living a more balanced emotional life.

If you feel you are ready to explore options for depression treatment, I invite you to call me at 916-443-5354 for a free 15 minute consultation to discuss your specific needs and address any questions you may have about depression treatment or my practice.