Depression
if you are depressed everything can feel like an effort and it can be difficult to imagine how life will ever improve. Depression doesn’t have to be forever! You are not broken, you’re just stuck. With the help of counselling you can clear the fog, despair and hopelessness and find hope.
Counselling and Therapy for Depression
Everyone has periods of being down or at a low ebb, but when those feelings persist you may be depressed. Suffering from depression is a common mental health condition characterised by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. It can significantly impact daily functioning, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Counselling seeks to find the roots of these depressive feelings and thoughts and explore ways to help you think differently and feel more positive and hopeful.
What are the Symptoms of Depression?
It can feel difficult sometimes to distinguish experiencing depression from the normal highs and lows of life. However, the more you identify with the list below and the stronger the feelings are, the higher the likelihood is that you are suffering from depression rather than a more fleeting sense of ‘feeling a bit low’.
Below are some of the most common symptoms of depression:
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
- Fatigue and decreased energy
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness
- Feelings of hopelessness and pessimism
- Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
- Irritability and restlessness
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Decline in work productivity
- Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
- Lack of interest in maintaining your physical appearance or health
- Overeating or appetite loss
- Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings
- Thoughts of suicide
The Vicious Cycle of Depression
Depression affects people physically, emotionally and cognitively. All three of these are linked, and it can be hard to separate one from the other, and they fuel each other in an exhausting circle that can cause you to feel more trapped and hopeless.
For example, if you are feeling low in mood, sad, a sense of hopelessness, you may not want to get out of bed or to move much . . . this then causes a sense of lethargy, heaviness and slow movement. These physical symptoms can cause feelings of low mood, sadness and tiredness and therefore you feel you can’t get out of bed, go outside, etc. and so the cycle continues. . .. viciously.
Donna Marie Thomas
Hello, my name is Donna, I am a qualified counsellor, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist and Registered Member of BACP based in Pontefract, West Yorkshire.
I have a passion for helping people to enjoy a happier, more fulfilling life via a person centred approach to therapy tailored to meet each individuals specific needs.
Get in touch to find out more or book an appointment with me today.
What Causes Depression?
As with the aforementioned vicious circle, there is no one specific cause for depression. However, some or all of the following can cause a vulnerability to depression:
- No support network, feeling isolated
- Relationship problems
- Financial problems
- Health problems
- A family history of depression
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Past traumatic events or abuse
- Chronic stress
- Societal expectations
- Stigma and discrimination
Not everyone who is depressed will demonstrate all these symptoms. Some people will only experience a few symptoms, whilst others may experience many.
Counselling and Therapy Options
Counselling and psychotherapy have been found to be a highly effective way to treat depression. Therapy can help you change your thinking patterns and improve your coping skills so you’re better equipped to deal with life’s stresses and conflicts.
As well as supporting your recovery, psychological therapies can help you stay well by identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours.
There are several different types of psychological treatments for depression including:
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
- Mindfulness-based therapies
CBT is one of the most commonly used psychological therapies which will enable you to monitor and change negative patterns of thinking and improve your coping skills, so you are better equipped to deal with life’s stresses and conflicts.
Benefits of Counselling and Therapy
Counselling can help you understand what’s causing your depression by making you aware of unconscious patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. Psychotherapy is a gentle but powerful method of depression therapy, which can get to the root of the problem.
- Improved sleep
- Better personal relationships
- Improved physical health
- Better performance at work
- Improved cognitive thinking
- Improved home life
- Healthier lifestyle choices
- Less chaos, more control
- Reduced risk of future depression
- Develop coping strategies
How Innerworth Counselling Can Help
Counselling and therapy provide you with a safe, soothing and confidential space where you can begin to discuss and understand the root causes of your depression. It is also a space where you can begin to explore both the emotional and physical aspects of your depression and learn a range of techniques which will allow you to cope better with the symptoms enabling you to take back control of your life.
Take the First Step Now
I offer private therapy, and take a person-centred approach, meaning that I’m non-judgemental, see clients as equals, and collaborate on your healing journey together.
If you feel that you could benefit from therapy for symptoms of depression, please book an initial consultation. You don’t have to prepare for this, just come as you are and we can look into how I might be able to help.
Additional Information
Here are some links that you may find helpful:
Samaritans
The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call them on: 116 123.
www.samaritans.org
Shout
This is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope, simply text ‘shout’ to 85258.
www.giveusashout.org
Mind
The team at Mind provide information on a range of mental health problems.
www.mind.org.uk
Contact me today to book a confidential consulation
What My Clients Say
Jason Osborne
I shall be forever bewildered by the effectiveness of hypnotherapy. I had always remained sceptical until my very last session, then the “weight” that suddenly lifted was both physical and emotional and continues to benefit both myself and those around me three years on – thank you Donna.
Jason Osborne
Abigail Johnson
I’ve finally found a solution to my dependency on food. Your weight-loss therapy sessions have seriously transformed my life. Honestly, I could cry, I am so happy and feel like a totally new person, inside and out! Truly amazing Donna.
Abigail Johnson
Charlotte Dickinson
I went to see Donna because my anxiety and depression had spiralled out of control. I now have skills and techniques that I can use for the rest of my life to help me cope with any challenges. Thoroughly recommend psychotherapy from Innerworth Counselling. Donna is warm, professional and clearly passionate about what she does.