Losing a loved one, getting fired from a job, going through a divorce, and other difficult situations can lead a person to feel sad, lonely and scared. These feelings are normal reactions to life’s stressors. Most people feel low and sad at times.
However, in the case of individuals who are diagnosed with “clinical” depression, the manifestations of the low mood are much more severe, and they tend to persist. People struggling with depression often describe:
– Feelings of “emptiness”
– Loss of interest in things they used to enjoy
– Feeling “isolated” – alone even when surrounded by loved ones
– Being irritable or angry more often than they used to be
– Feeling lost or hopeless
These feelings can last for weeks, months or even years.
If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. In 2015, over 16 million adults aged 18 years or older in the U.S. had experienced at least one major depressive episode in the last year, which represented 6.7 percent of all American adults. Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States among people ages 15-44.
Just like other chronic illnesses, depression is not your fault, it’s nothing you’ve caused. And also like many other illnesses, effective treatments exist to help ease and eliminate the struggles you face.
So if you’ve said or thought these things a lot recently…
– “What’s the point of trying.”
– “I’d rather stay at home and be by myself.”
– “I don’t care anymore.”
– “Things will never get any better.”
Or even…
– “I wish I wasn’t here.”
…There are proven steps and therapies that have been shown to result in sustained relief. To bring you hope, help and a way forward.
If you’d like to take the first steps to start feeling better, please contact me today for an appointment.