Depression

Depression

We all have bad days and feel down from time to time. It is normal to feel sad when something bad happens to us, but this sadness does not often impact our ability to function and goes away on its own. However, with depression, these feelings are different from having a bad day. Depression can be characterized by intense sadness, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, that occurs nearly every day for an extended period of time.

Depressive symptoms affect the way we think, feel, and interact with others and can negatively impact our lives. Most often the effects of depression begin to impact our daily routines as well as our functioning in social, work, and school situations.

Some signs that you may be suffering from depression can include:

There are several different types of depression including seasonal affective disorder, major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and postpartum mood disorder. However, major depressive disorder is the most common. These conditions differ depending on when depression is experienced, for how long, as well as the cause of the experience of depression. 

Depression can manifest differently in children and adolescents than it does in adults. Symptoms such as irritability and anger may be more prominent.

Additionally, children and adolescents may experience significant social withdrawal, loss of interest in school, and changes in their academic performance.

For very young children, depression can often manifest physically in the forms of muscle aches, restlessness, or nausea, as young children may not have the emotional insight to describe how they are feeling.

Depression is among the most treatable mental health conditions. Aside from medications, psychotherapy has been found to be extremely effective in helping clients identify distorted thinking patterns and causes of depressive symptoms.

Particular interventions that have been shown to be helpful in treating depression are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy , Dialectical Behaviour Therapy , and Mindfulness . These treatment approaches seek to help reframe negative thinking, recognize triggers for depression, and learn helpful ways to cope when feeling overwhelmed. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, contact us for a free 15 minute consultation to see how we can help you on your path to feeling better. 

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mental health condition in which a person feels sad for most of the day, nearly every day, for a minimum of two weeks.

A person with major depressive disorder may feel worthless, hopeless, and have difficulty functioning in their day to day lives.

Major depressive disorder can affect many areas of our lives including work and social relationships and impact our mood, behaviour, appetite, and sleep. Occasionally, individuals with MDD may feel that life is not worth living. 

Some common signs of GAD are:

This excessive anxiety is impacting daily functioning 

Individuals with GAD can also experience physical symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, sweating, difficulty concentrating, nausea, digestive problems, irritability, muscle tension, or difficulty with sleep.

In addition to antidepressant medications, talk therapy (psychotherapy) has also been found to be an effective treatment for MDD.

Various psychological interventions, including cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) can help an individual alter and challenge negative thoughts, find better ways to cope, and increase self-esteem. 

If you or a loved one has experienced at least five of the above symptoms, nearly every day, for more than two weeks, you may be suffering from MDD. Contact us for a free 15-minute phone consultation to see how we can help you. 

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD), previously known as Dysthymia, is a chronic, or long-lasting, type of depression. Just like other types of depression, PDD includes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, changes in sleep and appetite, as well as loss of interest in daily life.

The significant difference between PDD and major depressive disorder is that PDD is persistent, occurring at a lower intensity over a longer duration of time. The diagnostic criteria for PDD outline that an individual must be suffering from these symptoms for at least two years in adults and at least one year in children. PDD can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. While the symptoms are not as severe as major depressive disorder, they are pervasive and long-lasting. 

During the course of PDD, individuals may experience brief periods of not feeling depressed, but this relief in symptoms typically lasts for two months or less. While symptoms are not as severe as major depressive disorder , they are often pervasive and people might experience brief periods of not feeling depressed, but this relief of symptoms lasts for two months or less.

Some common signs of GAD are:

This excessive anxiety is impacting daily functioning 

Individuals with GAD can also experience physical symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, sweating, difficulty concentrating, nausea, digestive problems, irritability, muscle tension, or difficulty with sleep.

Treatment for persistent depressive disorder (PDD) often involves the use of medications as well as psychotherapy.

In psychotherapy, several therapeutic approaches (like cognitive behavioural therapy or dialectical behaviour therapy) can help individuals to decrease irritability, address negative thoughts and low self-esteem, and find helpful ways to cope with the emotions that they are experiencing. 

If you or a loved one has experienced any of the above symptoms for any extended period of time, you may be suffering for PDD. Contact us for a free 15-minute phone consultation to see how we can help you.