Depression Counseling

• Do you often feel “down in the dumps”, empty, worthless, or hopeless?
• Is it hard to enjoy the things you used to like?
• Have you noticed changes in your appetite and/or sleep?
• Do you often feel tired? Like simple tasks require a lot of effort?
• Do you feel like your mind is “in a fog”, making it hard to concentrate or make decisions?

These are common symptoms of clinical depression. People suffering from depression should not fight it alone. Great Lakes Psychology Group has a large network of licensed therapists and psychologists who utilize effective methods in treating adults, teens, and children with depression.  Depression is a common problem for which psychotherapy has been shown to be effective, and treatment for depression is usually covered by health insurance.

Some symptoms of depression include:

• Depressed mood (Note: in children and adolescents, this may be characterized as an irritable mood.)
• Significant weight loss when not dieting, or weight gain
• Sleeping much less or more than usual
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
• Suicidal thoughts

What causes depression?

Depression is likely caused by a mixture of genetics/biology, personality, and life events. Thus, there are many avenues by which any one person can come to be depressed.

How is depression treated?

Psychotherapy focuses on the causes of the depression and works to help change negative thoughts and behaviors that support the depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be very effective in treating depression, as well as anxious feelings that may come with it. Depression can be caused by and maintained with negative thinking, and this type of therapy, when given by a trained professional, can be extremely effective in helping fight it.

Dysthymic Disorder

Do you find yourself depressed, angry and irritable for days on end? Do you have a tendency towards dark or sad moods? Are you prone to negative, pessimistic thinking even when the circumstances do not warrant it? These are common symptoms of a form of depression called Dysthymic Disorder.

Unlike situational depression that may have a clearly identified source, such as a divorce or job loss, dysthymic disorder is characterized by a long-term, low-grade depression that manifests as a gloomy, grumpy mood without apparent cause, as is seen in the Winnie the Pooh character Eeyore.

A diagnosis of dysthymia requires that the individual must have demonstrated at least two of the following symptoms for a period of at least two years:

• Poor appetite or overeating
• Insomnia or hypersomnia (oversleeping)
• Low energy or fatigue
• Low self-esteem
• Poor concentration or difficulty making decisions
• Feelings of hopelessness

Research has demonstrated that individuals diagnosed with dysthymic disorder are vulnerable to recurrent Major Depression. Therefore, early intervention and ongoing mental health support are essential in preventing the development of this much more serious and potentially life-threatening form of depression.

Psychotherapy can be very helpful in treating dysthymic disorder by helping the patient explore the roots of their depression and to confront the underlying thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes that research has shown play a central role in the development and maintenance of depression.

Our network of therapists is trained and experienced in assessing and treating dysthymia. Call us anytime to set up a free 15-minute phone consultation or use one of the forms on this page to submit a request for more information.

You have taken the first and most important step of change by considering counseling. We hope you will take the next step and do what so many others have found to be helpful in overcoming their depression.

Articles about depression:

• The Blurred Line Between Grief and Depression
• When depression and relationship distress intersect
• Surprising Symptoms of Depression

* Reference Healthline statistics from 2012