Depression: A Brief Guide

What Is Depression?

Depression can be many things for many people; moreover, many people have symptoms of depression but don’t know how to tell. For some depression is a seasonal occurrence that comes with the longer, darker winter days, or the holiday season when you might feel pressured to socialize, be cheerful and spend more than you can afford to. For others it can become a constant struggle to get up from bed every day and gather the strength to complete the usual daily chores. What’s important is that depression can be treated, and the sooner you recognize the symptoms the sooner you can get the support and care to get through the worst of it and come out on the other side.

Signs to Look Out for:

• Feeling sad, unhappy or overwhelmed for prolonged periods of time (more than 2 weeks)
• Feeling disappointed in yourself, other people and perhaps even life in general
• Feeling irritable and upset, and experiencing a drop in self-esteem
• Giving yourself negative self-talk and seeing only the negative side of your personality and circumstances
• Changes in eating habits, such as eating too much or forgetting to eat at all
• Changes in sleep patterns, such as sleeping too much or having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• Lower tolerance to both emotional and physical discomfort
• Weakened immune system
• Withdrawing from social interactions or avoiding them completely
• Losing interest in hobbies and activities which you used to find enjoyable
• Lower interest or complete loss of interest in sex
• Having thoughts of harming yourself, disappearing or ending your life

There are many self-assessment tests on the internet available that promise to inform you whether you have depression or some other mental disorder. Please keep in mind that while these can serve as a means of initial contact with your condition, they can be misleading and inaccurate, possibly causing more harm than good in the long run. If you or a loved one is exhibiting some of the abovementioned symptoms and you suspect it might be a sign of depression, it is a good idea to talk to a mental health professional.

When to Seek Help?

A lot of people who are feeling depressed wait for a long time before asking for professional help due to feeling embarrassed, anxious or apprehensive. There is a fear of not being taken seriously because the symptoms are mild, and the deep-rooted idea that getting help and advice is a sign of weakness or incompetence. We do not believe this is true. It takes courage and strength to accept that something is wrong and work on feeling better and leading a fulfilling life. In fact, it’s usually a simpler and shorter process to treat depression while it’s still mild, before it progresses and begins affecting your life on a day-to-day basis.

If you notice any of these symptoms ask for help immediately:

• you find yourself experiencing major shifts in weight and becoming prone to diseases
• you are missing important life events because you can’t get out of bed
• you are turning to substances for relief from your symptoms
• you are preoccupied with suicidal thoughts, thoughts of self-harm and/or mutilation

Treatment We Offer

At Dr Jo Gee Psychotherapy, you will get support tailored to your needs for efficient and quick symptom relief. Our handpicked team of professionals will work with you to get the best outcome and support you on your journey to getting back on track.

Our standard approach to treating depression is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Some of the benefits of CBT are as follows:

• It is short-term, but can have long-lasting positive effects
• It is effective in replacing negative thought patterns with more positive ones
• It has a structured approach, ideal for individuals who find comfort in permanence
• It is effective both by itself and combined with other treatments

However, it is our policy to put our clients’ needs first and carefully consider the best solution to provide the necessary comfort and relief.

Get in Touch

Still not sure if you could benefit from our services? We offer a free 15 minute phone consultation at a time convenient for you. After that you can book a 50-75 minute assessment where you will have time to ask questions, share your therapy goals, discuss the possible outcomes, and build a personalized treatment plan with a member of our expert team. Your therapist will support you every step of the way, whether you opt for a short or a long-term plan.

If you would like to book an initial consultation, please message or call us, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.