Nathaniel Smith Counselor, PLLC
811 S. Central Expy, Suite 525, Richardson TX 75080
214-205-0237
nathaniel@nathanielsmithcounselor.com

Depression Counseling

What Is Depression?
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.

Emotional Symptoms

Sadness
Anxiety
Guilt
Anger
Mood swings
Helplessness
Hopelessness

Physical Symptoms

Sleeping too much or too little
Overeating or loss of appetite
Constipation
Weight loss or gain
Irregular menstrual cycle
Loss of sexual desire

Behavioral Symptoms

Crying for no apparent reason
Withdrawal from other people and new situations
Getting angry easily
Being unmotivated to set or meet goals
Loss of interest in one's physical appearance
Loss of interest in activities which were once of interest
Turning to drugs or alcohol

Thoughts/Perceptions Which May Become Self-Defeating

Feelings of being a failure
Criticizing oneself frequently
Disappointment
Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
Blaming oneself for unfortunate happenings
Being pessimistic about the future

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 therapy 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.

Home   Credentials   Counseling Services   Anger Management   Depression   Anxiety Counseling   Couples Counseling   Domestic Violence   Contact   Resources