You might not realize how prevalent depression is among adults in this country, but experts estimate that over 16.1 million people suffer from this disorder.
So, if you struggle with this, you’re not the only one.
You might wonder, though, why you feel this way. Likewise, you might want to know what you can do to treat it.
Many hard-working adults experience these feelings while managing a busy life and schedule. What can you do about it, though? One option is to seek counseling.
As you determine how to treat this issue, you might want to learn more about its causes and the best methods for handling it.
What Is Depression?
Major depressive disorder is a mental health illness that affects many people, including children, adults, and seniors.
Depression is somewhat hard to explain, as it makes a person feel hopeless and discontent. In many cases, people experience these emotions for no apparent reason.
Some people experience a heightened sense of depression in the winter months, while others experience it year-round.
Here are several things to understand about depression:
How It Makes You Feel
One familiar feeling people have when they suffer from this disorder is the inability to explain or understand their deep feelings of sadness.
People with it also tend to feel restless, worried, worthless, confused, and unmotivated. Many people isolate themselves when experiencing these emotions.
Depression Symptoms
While it’s normal to feel sad or upset when life hits you with a difficult situation, it’s not normal to feel this way for no reason. Yet, this is what depression is all about.
When a person suffers from depression, they might experience several common symptoms. First, they might feel deep sadness and lose complete interest in things that were once enjoyable.
They might have trouble sleeping or relaxing. A person with depression might lose energy and struggle with making decisions. In some cases, they might even experience suicidal thoughts.
The Stigma Tied to It
People often view depression as a sign of weakness or embarrassment. As a result, many deny they have it or attempt to hide it for fear that no one will understand.
The Effects It Has on Your Life
It’s important to note that depression affects a person’s life. For many, life feels dull, pointless, and frustrating. It can rob a person of joy, contentment, and satisfaction.
You don’t have to live your life this way. Instead, you should seek treatment for your feelings.
What Causes It?
Whether you have depressive episodes periodically or all the time, you might want to learn why. What causes depression? There are numerous causes, and here are a few:
Genetics
Depression is a mental health disorder that you can inherit from your DNA. Families with depression often have multiple family members who struggle with it. Learning your family history is crucial for treatment.
Hormones
Changes in hormones might also lead to depression. As a result, women tend to have a higher chance of developing it than men. However, low testosterone levels also contribute to depression.
Life Experiences
In many cases, people develop depression from their life experiences. For example, growing up in an abusive home might cause depression when you’re an adult. Living through an acute traumatic event like service in a foreign conflict may cause depression, too.
Personality Qualities
Some people experience it from their personality qualities. For example, you might experience worsened symptoms if you’re shy or have a social anxiety disorder. If you have low self-esteem, you might also develop it.
Depression occurs for many reasons. You can still treat it even if you don’t know the cause.
What Treatment Options Should You Seek?
When you understand how prevalent depression is and its causes, you want to know how to treat it. Fortunately, you can seek all kinds of depression treatment options. A combination of these treatments yields the best results.
Counseling
The first one to consider is counseling depression treatment.
Counseling for depression is one of the most sought-after treatment options around. One reason for this is counseling is natural, which means it doesn’t require medication. Secondly, counseling is effective for treating it.
Depression therapy opens the door for you to explain how you feel deep down inside, but it takes place in a safe, neutral location. Talking about your feelings is the first step toward healing.
Counseling also provides a way to learn more about your depression and ways to beat it. You might always feel some depression from time to time, but you shouldn’t feel it all the time.
Your therapist will provide the information and tools you need to start thinking differently. You might start seeing improvements to your mindset after one or two sessions.
One mistake to avoid is stopping counseling when you begin experiencing some relief. Instead, you should continue going until you have all the tools you need to fight your depression yourself.
Seeking online counseling allows you to stay home during your sessions, which might increase the level of safety you feel. After all, your home is likely the place where you feel the safest and calmest.
You might also want to seek other natural remedies for depression in addition to attending counseling. Here are a few to consider:
Physical Activities
Experts believe that participating in physical activities boosts a person’s mental health. The brain responds well to exercise, yoga, and relaxation techniques. As a result, you might feel better naturally.
You might want to join a gym to start exercising or sign up for an exercise class.
Supplements
You might also want to start taking some supplements for your mental health. For example, taking B-12 might help you feel better.
Other supplements that might help include probiotics, Vitamin D, and turmeric. You can ask your doctor or healthcare professional to learn more about the best supplements for depression.
Life Changes
In some situations, fighting depression might mean making some life changes. Life changes are a challenge for those suffering from depression, and counseling aids these big life decisions.
For example, if your job adds to your stress level too much, it might be time to look for a new one.
Counseling Can Make a World of Difference for Depression
After reading this guide, you might understand depression a little better than you did before. You might also realize that seeking counseling for it is a great place to start.
At Optimistic Counseling, we can help you. We offer online services with customized packages. Are you ready to learn more?
If so, fill out this form, and we’ll answer all your questions.
