Are You Experiencing Depression?
Depression is one of the most common conditions that psychologists see in private practice. National estimates suggest that 5-7% of Canadians will be diagnosed with depression each year while another 10% are likely to experience some symptoms of depression.
What is depression and how is it different from normal sadness or loneliness?
Everyone feels lonely or sad sometimes but not everyone with depression feels sad all the time. Many people are surprised by this statement. Although ongoing feelings of sadness are certainly one symptom of depression, not everyone experiences this particular symptom. Furthermore, when someone with depression does feel sad, their sadness is not a temporary state the way it is for others. Sadness in the context of depression does not occur in response to one particular event or cue and continues on for many days, weeks, or even months.
Here are some additional symptoms of depression that as a psychologist, I often hear clients describe.
Other symptoms include: loss of sex drive, increased amount of aches and pains, and social withdrawal. Feeling hopeless about one’s situation and experiencing higher than usual amount of guilt or worthlessness is also common. Finally, thoughts of suicide can also occur in more serious cases of depression. If your thoughts of death become persistent or you feel at risk for hurting yourself, immediate medical attention may be necessary. Calling a crisis line or visiting your local hospital’s emergency room will provide you with access to immediate care.
How can therapy help?
Whether you experience one, some, or all of the symptoms described above, a psychologist providing psychotherapy may help. Here are some of the benefits of treatment:
Understand the behaviors, emotions, and ideas that contribute to the depressed state
Identify problematic relationship dynamics that can lead to or exacerbate depression
Regain a sense of control and pleasure in life
Identify learned behaviours that may precipitate or exacerbate depression
Learn better coping techniques and problem-solving skills
In addition, psychotherapy has an actual physiological impact on brain activity. Researchers have suggested that this is because psychotherapy is a form of learning, which has been shown to create lasting changes on the brain. There is also new research that suggests that ongoing psychotherapy for depression may lessen the chances of future depression or reduce its intensity. Given that having one episode increases the risk of having another episode, this is an important benefit of treatment.