“Depression” is a word loosely and commonly used these days to refer to sadness, so at times, you may hear people using it to describe a fleeting feeling of gloom to deep frustration.  Technically, it goes beyond these feelings. Depression is an emotional condition that could be triggered by an imbalance in certain neurotransmitters or brain chemicals. It is also typically accompanied by symptoms that result in feelings of despair, hopelessness, helplessness, disinterest, and even anger.

The symptoms can be intense, impacting your everyday life in ways that your relationships, work and health suffer. Overwhelming as the symptoms are, they can be addressed with counseling and therapy. With the right professional help, you can loosen the grip of the persistent and intense symptoms to enable you to bring back your functioning, recapture your dreams, and gain a renewed outlook in life.

Understanding Depression

Depression can’t be ignored. It affects a large percentage of our populace. According to the World Health Organization, about 121 million people worldwide are gripped with depression, making it a leading incapacitating condition. It is estimated that 10 percent of adult Americans experience depression at some point, and that approximately 20 percent may have a case of a serious episode in their lifetime.

The NIMH or National Institute of Mental Health describes major or clinical depression as “a common but serious mood disorder… To be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least two weeks.”  It includes dysthymia, postpartum blues or perinatal depression, SAD or seasonal affective disorder, as well as bipolar disorder and psychotic depression.

Research shows that there are many factors that may increase your vulnerability to the condition, such as genetic predisposition, biological influences, personality type, environment, and experiences or life events. It may also be triggered by the medications you are taking for another health issue. These causal factors are mostly beyond your control. This means that depression isn’t your fault nor does it mean you are weak. Know, however, that you have the potential to improve its outlook.

The Telltale Symptoms to Watch Out For

 Though depression could be beyond your control, it can be prevented from overwhelming your life and emotional health. To be able to seek early help, you must first recognize the symptoms. Some of these telltale signs that Mental Health America says you may experience are:

• Persistent sad, anxious or “empty” mood
• Sleeping too much or too little, middle of the night or early morning waking
• Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
• Loss of pleasure and interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex
• Restlessness, irritability
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment (such as chronic pain or digestive disorders)
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
• Thoughts of suicide or death

Feeling sad can be a usual occurrence and can’t be taken to mean depression right away. According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth edition (DSM-5), for the symptoms to be considered as indications of depression, you must experience five or more of them. Your symptoms may not necessarily be the same as another person you know to be depressed – these vary between individuals.

The symptoms are also nonspecific. This means that even people who aren’t depressed may exhibit any or several of these when they are feeling low. What sets depressive symptoms apart are their persistence and intensity. To know if you are indeed depressed, seek the help of a therapist as a first recourse. A methodical assessment of your symptoms by a professional is critical in getting the proper treatment to restore your functioning.

Rise Above the Overwhelming Gloom

When certain things that bring about sadness improve, you may tend to feel better, but not when you are depressed. Depression can result in feelings of despair, even when there is no apparent reason to feel that way. This is because it is an emotional condition with symptoms that will not just dissipate by willing it to or by being strong. It is a condition that needs to be treated. It is a condition that a therapist independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services in Cameron, NC – on Hwy 87, near Linden Oaks, can help you with. 

 Feeling powerless in trying to prevent yourself from sinking further into depression can add to your feeling worse. If you want to bounce back from depression or break the cycle of the trapping depressive symptoms, seek real help now. To find the right, caring therapist who can provide you with treatment based on trust, experience and proficiency, contact Carolina Counseling Services in Cameron, NC. Call or text to set up your first appointment today!

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