Depression is not a momentary unhappy state of mind or temporary sad feeling; these emotions are within the normal range of daily experience and are typically appropriate reactions to bad news, disappointment, and unhappy situations. When a depressed mood persists for two weeks or more and begins to interfere with everyday living, it may be the sign of a serious state of depression that requires professional help. What Causes Depression? The cause of depression
has no simple answers as genetic, biological, and environmental factors may contribute
to its development. Depression can be traced to a single cause or a number of
causes could be at play. - Health Problems.
Medical conditions like heart disease, cancer, and HIV may trigger depression,
which may be due to the physical weakness and stress these conditions bring on.
Depression can also make medical conditions worse.
- Family
History. Genetics may be a cause of depression as it can run in families for
generations.
- Negative Personality. People
who have low self-esteem and a negative outlook are at higher risk of becoming
depressed.
- Other Psychological Disorders.
Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and (especially) substance
abuse often appear along with depression.
Signs of Depression A person experiencing
clinical depression could have changes in their mood, thinking, behaviors, activities
and self-perceptions. A depressed person often has difficulty making decisions
and following through on day-to-day tasks such as paying bills, attending classes,
reading assignments, and returning phone calls. Depressed individuals may dwell
on negative thoughts, focus on unpleasant experiences, describe themselves as
a failure, report that things are hopeless, and feel as though they are a burden
to others. The change in mood brought on by depression frequently results in feelings
of sadness, irritability, anger, emptiness, and anxiety. Not everyone who is depressed
experiences every symptom listed below. The severity of symptoms also varies with
individuals. A person's diagnosis depends on the number of symptoms they have,
how strong those symptoms are, and how long they last.
Dallas Counseling Treatment for Depression
The first step towards helping yourself is to identify the emotional, psychological
and behavioral difficulties you have been experiencing which may be related to
depression. You should also assess how depression may have impacted other areas
of you life including relationships with family and friends, finances, academic
responsibilities, etc. Discussing these problems with a counselor can help you
address the issues before feelings of depression become more serious. Most research
has validated that a combination of
depression counseling and medication
is the best form of treatment for severe depression. I believe that for severe
depression an individual will have better results via this approach. I will provide
a therapy environment that is caring, that will ease the pain of depression, and
that will address the feelings of hopelessness. I believe that a supportive and
problem solving approach will provide you an opportunity to change your life in
a positive fulfilling direction.