Seeking out Depression Treatment? 

Are you getting teary eyed or crying more than usual? Are you lacking motivation? Does getting out of bed in the morning feeling pointless? Is it taking you longer than usual to get over a relationship breakup or death of a loved one? Above all, depression is a serious condition that one cannot just snap out of. It’s more than just feeling sad. It can consume your whole body and being. Depression can affect relationships, families, careers, and more. It is a debilitating mental health condition and it should be taken seriously.

Depression Symptoms

Hopelessness

Self-hate

Tearfulness

Emptiness

Sleep Disturbances

Loss of interest in normal activities

Reduced appetite

Increased cravings for food

Weight gain/Weight loss

Irritability

Fatigue

Feeling foggy

Not wanting to leave the house

Thoughts of death

Mood swings

Depression Treatment can help you.

Depression Is Common

In the United States 17.3 million adults have had at least one depression episode in their life. Depression symptoms can be serious and debilitating. It can range from mild to severe. Worldwide, depression is the leading cause of disability. Women are nearly twice as likely to have depression than men. In addition, depression can also co-occur with other illnesses such as cancer, HIV, Parkinson’s Disease, substance use, and many other illnesses. Depression might take some time to work through, but you don’t have to do it alone. For more info and statistics on depression, click HERE.

Depression is treatable. In the thick of it, it may feel hopeless. But there is hope and getting better is possible.

Depression Recovery Treatment

I know that finding the motivation to seek help isn’t always easy. You might even come from a family or background that doesn’t support mental health treatment. Importantly, depression is part of the human experience and there is no shame in experiencing it. I get that finding the right therapist can also seem overwhelming. When we meet, I of course will do my best to help you. In the event we don’t match, I will help and support you in finding a different therapist.

When working with people experiencing depression, I offer a kind, empathetic, warm environment. To begin, I take an in-depth history and assessment. During treatment it’s helpful to explore past history, genetic factors, relationships, and current life events and stressors. Also, it’s important to explore all your treatment options- different therapy modalities, medication, lifestyle changes, medical assessments, exercise, etc. To recover from depression, I believe it’s a balance of being with your emotions while also pushing yourself gently to make changes. Recovery might take some time, but you will get there.

Some Therapies I Use

Undoubtably, our thoughts can often turn on us with negativity and self-hatred. It’s important to understand that these thoughts are false. They are only perpetuating you feeling bad. Accordingly, I like to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for sticky unhelpful thoughts. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy has great tools for coping and emotional regulation. Also, EMDR can be helpful for traumatic events and negative self-beliefs contributing to the depression. These methods have been studied and found to be effective in depression treatment. In addition, I use somatic therapy techniques, inner child work, and Emotional Freedom Technique. I will also help you work through unhelpful depression symptoms such as fatigue, disordered eating, and more.

Questions

Getting out of the house is a struggle for me. How will I ever get better?

I understand that simple things like getting dressed in the morning can be tough. Getting out of bed might even be a challenge. To start, we can do online therapy until you are able to make it to the office or get back on your feet. Lets make depression recovery as easy as possible.

Will I need medication?

Taking medication for depression is a personal decision. I recommend getting checked out by your doctor to make sure that nothing else is contributing to your depression symptoms. After, I recommend meeting with a psychiatrist (can prescribe antidepressants and mood stabilizers) to go over all your options. I am happy to discuss any questions you have about medication. And overall, I will support any decision you decide to make regarding medication.

How long does depression last?

To be diagnosed with depression, you will need to be depressed at least two weeks. Sometimes depression only lasts a few weeks and may be situational. But when untreated, depression can last months or even years. There are many different types of depression such as postpartum, bipolar, seasonal affective disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, dysthymia, and more. For the most part, understanding the type of depression you’re experiencing can help treatment.

My Experience Working with Depression

Throughout my clinical experience,  I have worked with people experiencing short-term and long-term depression. I have also worked with individuals who have Bipolar Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, Psychosis, addiction, eating disorders, and more. I am openminded and always try to tailor my treatment to the individual. One size doesn’t always fit all. I also work with teens experiencing depression. Click HERE for more info on teen therapy.

I Can Help

Please reach out. Dealing with depression is hard enough. Importantly, you don’t need to do it alone. I offer online therapy all over California and in office therapy in Ventura. My office is close to Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks.  Depression treatment can help you feel better. Click HERE to learn about becoming a new client.

National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255