Depression
Depression rips all joy out of life.
Jason* can’t shake his sadness and feelings of worthlessness and failure.
He’s struggled with feelings of emptiness since his girlfriend broke up with him four months ago.
She said, “I can’t possibly be making you happy because when we’re together, your mood is sour, and you complain constantly. I don’t think you’ll ever be content with your life.”
He’s reflected on those words a thousand times and concluded that she’s right. At 35, he has nothing but a string of failed relationships. His depressed mood and downward spirals ruin them every time.
His life keeps getting smaller and smaller.
As he ruminates on his inadequacies, Jason realizes he’s lost interest in many of the things he once enjoyed.
He used to love playing basketball and riding his carbon-fiber race bike with friends.
Going out to dinner with friends is now a rarity. It seems like there’s always some little problem or misunderstanding that frustrates or irritates him, causing him to withdraw.
Jason’s depressive spiral is affecting his health.
His sleep has become irregular. Some nights, he lies awake for hours.
On weekends, he seldom gets out of bed before four or five in the afternoon.
Constantly tired, he just doesn’t exert himself anymore. Colleagues at work see him as a low-energy guy.
Lately, he’s been gaining weight and having a lot of headaches.
Jason knows he needs therapy.
Going it alone has not worked.
He doesn’t want to talk about his problems to a therapist, but it’s clear that the medications he was prescribed aren’t doing enough for him.
With meds, he doesn’t wish he were dead, but he doesn’t feel happy, either.
Don’t let depression suck away your life like this.
Let’s craft a therapy plan that uses both cognitive-behavior (changing your thought habits) and dialectical behavior (coping skills) methods.
Change your thinking.
I’ll help you recognize negative, automatic thoughts like, “Nothing will ever get better” or “There’s no use in trying.” You’ll learn to intercept these thoughts and quickly reframe them to be more balanced and realistic.
Try new things.
We’ll create a plan for re-engaging in enjoyable, meaningful activities, even when you don’t feel motivated. This helps break the cycle of inactivity that usually accompanies depression.
Remain “mindful” in response to negative emotions.
Mindfulness is a term that gets thrown around a lot. It means learning to become fully aware of your emotions and thoughts in a neutral, nonjudgmental way. This is especially helpful for overcoming depression because it helps you notice and detach from negative thoughts spirals.
Manage distressing situations.
Learn a deep form of acceptance that will help you remain calm instead of becoming overwhelmed. Learn to soothe yourself in healthy ways in response to the rising tide of negative thinking.
Control your emotions.
By learning to identify and label your emotions and increasing positive emotional experiences, you will become less vulnerable to negative emotions and thinking.
Improve your interpersonal skills.
Stressful relationships can create and make depression a lot worse. By learning to clearly express your needs, assert yourself expertly, and act in a way that preserves your self-respect, you will feel empowered. These skills are powerful antidotes to crushing depression.
You can overcome this.
You might not feel like it right now, but you have to follow the instinct that brought you to this page.
You’re depressed… and you need help to pull your way out. There’s no shame in that.
Let me help you the way I’ve helped so many of my clients.
Don’t let depression damage any more of your life!
Start fresh. Call now, and we’ll talk more during your free consultation: (757) 967-7342
*Name and story are composite narratives and do not reflect an actual client.