Depression: There is Hope when you feel Hopeless
By Angel Coleman
Am I sad or depressed?
Sadness and Depression are not one and the same. You may feel sad because you are depressed but depression is more extreme than sadness.
What is sadness?
Feeling sad is an emotion we have when we experience a negative situation, the loss of a loved one, a breakup, or fighting with someone we care about. Sadness may last a couple of days or a few weeks, but the feeling is not constant and improves over a period of time.
What is depression?
Depression is more than feeling sad. In fact, depression is many times misunderstood. In a 2015 Psychology Today blog depression was defined as an abnormal emotional state, a mental illness that affects our thinking, emotions, perceptions, and behaviors in pervasive and chronic ways.
Depression, unlike sadness, does not require a negative event or even a trigger. When someone experiences depression it is difficult to understand where the feeling came from and why they feel the way they do, which can make someone feel more helpless and hopeless.
How does a depression therapist diagnose a depressive disorder?
There are several assessment tools that are used to assess symptoms of depression. To be diagnosed with a depressive disorder mental health providers utilize the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM5). The DSM5 has provided us with criteria for individuals to receive a diagnosis for a depressive disorder, you must meet the following criteria for depression:
An individual must be experiencing five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period. At least one of the symptoms should be either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
Additional symptoms of depression include:
Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.
Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
I can only imagine how overwhelming even reading so many symptoms can feel for someone who is already feeling hopeless and helpless. That is why it is important to know it is okay to ask for help. It is okay to not be okay. Depression does not have to control you or your life. You have the ability, although it may not feel like it, to take control and get treatment to help you manage these symptoms and return to life.
Causes and Depression Treatments
There are several factors that can contribute to feelings of depression. Researchers have not identified one single thing that can contribute to depression but they have identified some possibilities. The Cleveland Clinic has identified several contributing factors to depression.
Brain Chemistry: imbalance in neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine.
Genetics: if we have a biological parent or sibling with depression we have a higher likelihood of developing depression.
Stressful life events: difficult events; death of a loved one, trauma, isolation, and lack of support may trigger depression.
Medical Conditions: some chronic pain or chronic conditions may lead to depression.
Medication: some may cause depression as a side effect. Substance use, including alcohol, can cause or make depression worse.
Depression is not curable but can be managed.
It is important that we understand that depression cannot be cured but it can be treated and managed to allow you to move on and live a fulfilling life. Depression does not have to be something you have, it can be something you live with. It is not who you are.
No one will experience depression the same way, it is not a one-size fits all mental illness. There is hope and there are treatment options. Many of the depression treatment options will vary depending on the severity of the depression. Depression treatment is also not one-size fits. Some treatment options may include the following:
Psychotherapy or talk therapy ( therapy for depression)
Medication, such as the use of antidepressants.
Alternative medicine, such as acupuncture or hypnosis in conjunction with western medicine.
Brain Stimulator therapy is used many times when an individual is resistant to other treatments.
Therapy for depression and treatments in St. Louis are individualized.
Again, depression treatment is conducted depending on the severity of the depressive disorder diagnosis. Not every treatment will work for every person. Your mental health and medical provider can work together with you to find the best course of treatment to help you live your best life.
In some cases people who are experiencing depression experience thoughts of ending their own life. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or death, there are resources available 24/7. These include Behavioral Health Response (BHR) 314-469-6644 (St. Louis): Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741: Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988.
It is possible to find hope again through therapy for depression in St. Louis, MO!
It is important you know that you are not alone although it feels like it. One person in the book Prozac Nation: Young and Depressed in America (1994) described depression this way:
“That’s the thing about depression: A human being can survive almost anything, as long as she sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious-and it compounds daily-making it impossible to ever see the end. That fog is like a cage without a key.”
This describes what many seem to try and put into words when explaining what their depression feels like, trying to explain the feelings of hopelessness to someone who has not felt such unexplained loss is hard. We as human beings need hope, need support, and need to know there is an escape from the darkness that feels all-consuming. I hope you know there is hope in all the hopelessness.
If you feel like you are trapped in a feeling of hopelessness, you do not have to stay there. You have the ability to take back your life and take control. You do not have to keep telling everyone “It’s fine” when it is not. You can live the life you want, you can take control back and not allow this feeling to win.
At Core Counseling in Missouri, we are here to assist you in your journey and your path to HOPE!
Additional Resources for Education on Depressive Disorder:
American Psychiatric Association
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
National Alliance on Mental Illness
https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression
National Institute of Mental Health
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression
Begin Depression Treatment in St. Louis, MO, and Online Throughout the State of Missouri
Don’t wait any longer to start treating your depression. Get the support you deserve from one of our caring depression therapists and begin treating your depression today! To begin depression treatment with Core Counseling, please follow these steps:
1. Contact Core Counseling to get scheduled
2. Complete intake forms and meet with a caring depression therapist
3. Start receiving the support you deserve
Other Services Offered at Core Counseling
At Core Counseling, we offer a variety of mental health services in support of your mental health. These include counseling for teens, anxiety therapy, family therapy, online therapy, therapy for trauma, play therapy, and couples counseling. Our therapists are also experienced in treating grief, trauma, addiction, anger management, relationship issues, and ADHD. We are also happy to offer support with mood disorders, emotional issues, life transitions, low self-esteem, stress management, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and communication issues. Feel free to learn more about our practice by visiting our FAQ page, about page, our blog, and other resources. We currently offer Online Therapy and Face-to-Face therapy options! Contact us and Let's Talk!
