Counseling NEAR ARVADA, CO and Online
We all experience times of sadness. This can be prompted by the loss of a loved one, relationship having difficulties or ending, job loss, and a variety of other factors that leave us feel less like ourselves and sometimes seems insurmountable.
Depression is a step beyond sadness and commonly manifests physically, through stomach pains, headaches, disrupted or excessive sleep, changes in appetite, and motor control difficulty. While each person's depression may be unique, a predisposition for it runs in families and it can be triggered by trauma and adverse life circumstances.
Depression and anxiety often exacerbate each other and people with depression commonly have difficulty concentrating on tasks and conversations. Some people abuse alcohol and drugs or overeat as a way of coping, causing them to develop other medical problems. Depressed people are also at increased risk for self-harm.
Depression is a mental illness which is characterized by prolonged emotional symptoms including:
- Apathy
- Sadness
- Guilt
- Exhaustion
- Irritability
Diagnosing depression involves a psychiatric evaluation and physical tests to determine whether a person’s symptoms are actually being caused by a different disorder. A person must have been experiencing symptoms for at least two weeks to be diagnosed with depression. Every case is unique and requires individual attention, but there are a number of effective complementary ways of treating depression, including:
- Talk therapy
- Medication
- Adopting a healthier lifestyle
We can work with you and your healthcare provider to effectively treat your symptoms of depression and help you return to a more fulfilling life.