Loosen the Grips of Persistent Depressive Disorder

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“Depression” is a word loosely and commonly used these days to refer to sadness. You may hear people using it to describe a fleeting feeling of sadness or frustration, however, clinical depression is so much more than that. Depression is a condition that can 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.

Symptoms of depression can be intense, impacting your everyday life and causing your relationships, work and health to suffer. Overwhelming as the symptoms are, they can be addressed with counseling or therapy. With the right professional help, you can loosen the grip of your persistent and intense symptoms, allowing you to function as you’d like, recapture your dreams and gain a renewed outlook on life.

Understanding Depression

Depression can’t be ignored. It affects a large percentage of people. According to the World Health Organization, about 121 million people worldwide experience depression. It is estimated that 10 percent of adult Americans experience depression at some point, and that approximately 20 percent may experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) or Dysthymia is described by The Cleveland Clinic as “a mild to moderate chronic depression. It involves a sad or dark mood most of the day, on most days, for two years or more. PDD is common and can happen to anyone at any age. The most effective treatment combines medication, counseling and healthy lifestyle choices.” They also state that 2.5% of adults will experience PDD in their lifetime. 

While PDD may be less common than major depressive disorder, it is important to know the symptoms and to be aware so that you can get help as soon as you notice any concerns. Depression is treatable, though it rarely improves on its own. 

Research shows that there are many factors that may increase your likelihood of developing depression, such as genetic predisposition, biological influences, personality type, environment experiences and/or life events. It may also be triggered by medications you are taking or another health issue. These causal factors are mostly beyond your control. Depression isn’t your fault, you have the power to seek treatment and find remission.

The Telltale Symptoms to Watch Out For

The more you know about Depression, the sooner you can reach out for help if you notice symptoms. Some of the symptoms 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

For your symptoms to be considered as clinical depression, you must experience five or more of them and occur more often than not for at least two weeks or more. 

Rise Above Depression with Counseling

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 trigger. This is because it is a serious condition with symptoms that will not just dissipate by willing it to. Depression is a condition that needs to be treated. It is a condition that a skilled therapist, contracted with Carolina Counseling Services in Cameron, NC, can help you with. 

Feeling powerless in trying to prevent yourself from sinking further into depression can leave you feeling worse. If you want to break the cycle of depression, seek professional help now. Call CCS today to get started.

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