Conquer Depression

Depression


Depression robs you of joy and happiness.  It keeps you from feeling free to follow your dreams, and of having a sense of adventure in life. It can negatively impact your ability to do your job effectively, to enter into relationships with others, or to even engage in activities that previously brought you enjoyment. It can cause you to feel tired all the time, have difficulty concentrating, feel irritable, have trouble sleeping or oversleeping, feel hopeless and pessimistic, and even have thoughts of suicide if the depression is severe.  What does it hold you back from doing in your life?

Sometimes depression is simply a reaction to circumstances in life that are beyond your ability to cope, and once those circumstances change, or you learn some good coping tools, you are likely to feel better.  But, sometimes, depression can be something that settles into your life, bringing feelings of heaviness, emptiness, loneliness and darkness. When that happens, you may feel like you are stuck and can't get out of it, yet have little motivation to try to summon the energy to change.

Depression is actually complicated.  In my years as a therapist, here are some factors that have contributed to depression in some of the people with whom I've worked. 

Emotionally you may be experiencing:

Grief or sadness from an important loss, or series of losses throughout your life.
Anger turned inward at yourself.
Loneliness, being disconnected from others, not being in community.
Shame for some perceived mistakes, imperfections or failures.


Mentally you may:
Believe negative things about yourself, such as, "I have to do it perfectly.  I can't make a mistake.  I'm not good enough."
Engage in a lot of self-critical thinking, and what you say to yourself over and over, out loud or inside your mind, is reflective of this.


Physically, these are some factors that contribute to depression:
An imbalance in the neurotransmitters in the brain (for which medication is helpful).
An overgrowth of Candida (which is epidemic in America today).
An exposure to mold that has gotten into the body.
Parasites in the blood.
Adrenal burnout.
Poorly functioning Thyroid.
Too much sugar and chocolate, and eating high carb foods throughout the day, resulting in an imbalance in your blood sugar.
Poor nutrition and and eating a lot of processed foods that contain chemicals that can mess with your hormones.


Spiritually:
Not living out of your truest self, what you are passionate about, or what your purpose is in life.
Not feeling any sense of something beyond yourself and your everyday life.
Feeling disconnected from any sense of a higher power or God.

If you are experiencing any of the above, you don't have to be stuck living this way.  There are many tools and strategies that can help you feel better.  Some of them involve doing some in-office or online counseling, but others can be learned and you can practice them at home.  If you are feeling suicidal or have no energy, please see your Primary Care Physician to rule out any kind of medical problem, or see a Psychiatrist to be evaluated for a possible prescription for an anti-depressant.


You deserve to feel better, and I would love to help you conquer the depression you've been experiencing.  To schedule an appointment, please call me at 480-603-5360 or use the form below.  







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