Updated: Mar 23, 2023
According to NIH, depression is "one of the most common mental disorders in the US." It is estimated in 2019, close to 20 million adults experienced at least one episode of depression in the United States.
Between 2015-2020 incidents of depression rose by about 9%. Some experts claim that depression is so common in the US it can be considered analogous to the common cold. Worldwide, depression is the leading cause of disability and accounts for approximately 5% of adults.
You Are Not Alone.
Can you relate to any of the following symptoms?
Are you having trouble concentrating, making decisions, or remembering details?
Are you feeling empty or sad?
Are you experiencing a state of pessimism and hopelessness?
Are you experiencing decreased energy or fatigue?
Are you feeling worthless and helpless?
Are you experiencing increased irritability, restlessness, or crankiness?
Do you find yourself losing interest in things?
Are you experiencing a recent disturbance in your sleep following previously mentioned symptoms?
Still not sure → click here (we'll email you a free quiz)
The Cost of Depression
Physical
Untreated depression can correlate with back pain, joint pain, fatigue, appetite changes, and gastrointestinal problems; if untreated physical pain can weaken one's ability to function. The functional limitations often exacerbate the depressive mood. Specifically, the physical impairment will also feed the destructive negative self-talk, intensifying the depressive episode.
Social isolation
Depression often leads to little to no desire to keep up or seek social connections. Loneliness has been associated with increased stress levels, lower physical health, poor quality of sleep, and dissatisfaction with one's quality of life.
Self-Destructive Behavior & Addiction
As one who experiences depression continues to isolate, destructive behavior patterns are a matter of time. Common destructive behaviors include but are not limited to self-neglect, social isolation, and drug abuse.
Self-esteem & Depression
Once one builds a relationship with a substance as a primary source of managing depressive symptoms, chemical dependence can lead to losing self-control. The loss of self-control is closely related to the loss of self-respect, guilt, shame, isolation, and deterioration of physical illness. The combined effect is an intensification of a depressive episode.
What is normal, and when is it a problem?
Most people will experience a low mood episode in their lives. Stressful things happen to all of us, which can trigger a depressive state; this is normal. The inability to cope with the depressive episode after two weeks following a functional impairment is an important marker to keep in mind.
Functional impairment includes but is not limited to decrease quality in work performance, self-neglect, social isolation, or engaging in destructive behavior. This marker is a first sign that it might be a good time to ask for professional help.
Asking for help is very challenging. The limiting beliefs can trigger further isolation. One example is a limiting belief is asking for help is considered a weakness. Such a limiting belief is embedded in the minds of both men and women while more common in men. Breaking past this limiting belief and asking for help is the first step. Please remember that asking for help is not a weakness! It takes courage to admit the need for change is necessary while recognizing we all need support at one point or another in our lives is universal fact.
Triggers for a depressive episode
Life transitions often trigger a depressive episode. Such triggers include but are not limited to changing schools, relocating to a different city, changing jobs, separation from one's partner, divorce, and a permanent loss of a loved one.
Bullying and Suicide
If you know someone suffering from depression, there are a few essential things to understand. In most cases, a person who wants to end their life does not reach such a decision overnight. It is a decision when the pain associated with depression is greater than the desire to live. Reaching this state is a gradual process. Here are steps you can take today to help yourself and those you care about.
1. Take the time to reach out and connect with those close to you.
2. Focus on self-development to help strengthen your sense of identity. The more you diversify your
ego investments, the more resilient you will be during difficult times and tribulations.
3. Stay connected. Studies show that a robust support system can buffer during challenging times
and serve as a positive loop in self-affirmations.
4. Be comfortable talking about your challenges. Everyone struggles. Opening up is not a weakness.
5. Words have more power than bullets. They can heal those you care about just as easily harm
them to the point they lose hope in themselves and humanity. Bullying is one example; if you
see someone bullied, act immediately!
6. Perpetual acts of bullying and a lack of support lead to one of the leading causes of suicide
among teenagers.
7. Instead of negative judgment, focus on paying attention to others' strengths and take the time to
let them know what they are doing well, leaving no opportunities behind.
8. If you observe a loved one who is isolated, experiencing low energy, or has difficulty managing
their emotions reach out and offer support.
9. Be gentle, and do not push.
10. Let them know seeking professional help is not a weakness.
11. If discussing the issues does not help, offer to link them to a licensed professional therapist.
Should I take medication to help me manage depressive episodes?
Some people will rely on medication to support their treatment of depression. In most cases, cognitive behavioral therapy can help treat a depressive episode without medication. Together we will find an approach that works for you.
How We Differ
In the past ten years, we have been working with our clients, teaching them how to improve their ability to build harmony between the workings of their body and the mind, focusing on specific target areas and helping them naturally heal from a depressive episode giving them the freedom to let go of dependence to substances. The key areas we focus on in the treatment include
increasing self-awareness,
mindfulness training,
cognitive restructuring training,
creating healthy sleep hygiene,
building a positive self-image,
psycho-eduction on super-foods
learning what food to avoid that causes inflammation,
building an exercise routine,
creating a balance between productivity and relaxation,
improving problem-solving skills and
forming healthy habits that will sustain growth.
Take the next step.
Connect with what you learned about our approach, schedule a free consult today, and learn how to start building a plan that will work for you.
