Depressive Disorders

We all experience fluctuations in our enjoyment of certain activities or with motivation to participate in social or educational events. However, if you have noticed your energy, enjoyment, and motivation to participate have been decreasing consistently or are absent, you may be experiencing a depressive episode. Depression is a common mental health concern that can influence the way you see and experience yourself and the world. People who are experiencing an episode of depression often note decreased enjoyment of activities, changes in sleep patterns, changes in appetite, and feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness

Common thoughts for people experiencing depression may be:

● I am worthless and can’t do anything about it.

● I feel guilty for just wanting to eat, sleep, and be alone.

● I hate who I am these days.

● I can’t stop crying, which makes me want to stay away from others.

● I feel gut-wrenching pain, but no one understands.

● My life and the world around me are dark.

 

I hate it, but I can’t change it. According to data from the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 17.3 million adults in the United States experience a depressive episode in their life. This means you are not alone, and there are people who can help. The primary aim of interventions for depression is to help clients sort out environmental, biological and circumstantial factors that may be affecting their depression symptoms. Mild depression can often be treated with either medication alone, or talk therapy interventions alone, including Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) and cognitive- and behaviorally-based therapies (like CBT). However, more complex, severe, or chronic cases of depression have been shown to benefit more from the combination of medication and therapy together.