Depression

Symptoms

Simply feeling “blue” from time to time is not depression.  Generally, depression includes feeling sad the majority of the time; feeling irritable, numb, and/or empty.  As well as experiencing physical and cognitive changes that greatly affect one’s ability to function (i.e. muscular pain, exhaustion, inability to focus, etc.).  Of course people are unique and your experience may not exactly match this definition.  For example: the myth that depression is predominantly a women’s disorder is largely due to the differences in how men and women present depression.  Mental illness is often stigmatized as a weakness, and shameful.  As such men often try to hide their depression, but the effects are still there.

Recovery Process

Having depression doesn’t mean you’re weak.  Feeling hopeless and helpless is normal for this type of disorder.  Depression doesn’t have a “one size fits all” treatment.  Recovery will be fitted to your needs and capabilities.  The key to recovery is to take small steps.  Together we will work on building emotional skills, and creating healthy lifestyle changes.  We’ll work on building a bridge for the mind and body to work together, and may explore alternative medical systems.  If we feel that antidepressants would be a boon in your journey to mental health, a referral will be given.