Mental health issues like depression and anxiety affect many Americans. Right now, there is little sunlight in the Northeast United States. As well, with less sunlight, this may bring depression. It’s important to understand the symptoms and effects of depression. This way, you can recognize depression in yourself and your loved ones before it gets worse. The team of creative therapists at Wisdom Within Counseling work with those suffering from depression and offer therapy in New London, CT.
What is the connection between depression, relationships and life events?
It is also important to understand how mental health can affect your relationships with family and friends. Also, stress around finances, having a loved one with an illness, or moving to a new home can lead to depression. Overall, life stressors deepen the severity of the depression and the other health conditions that depression effects.
What types of depression therapy are there in New London, Connecticut?
Professional depression help in New London, Connecticut may be vital to help loved ones experiencing the symptoms of depression. As well, depending on the age of your family member, it changes the type of therapy. For instance, if your child is struggling with depression, you may want to work with a play therapist. Young children benefit from play therapy more than talk counseling. As well, adolescents benefit from art, painting, and creative therapies for depression. However, if an adult you love is dealing with depression, working with an adult talk therapist will help.
At Wisdom Within Counseling, we offer art, yoga, music, and walking therapies by the beach.
There are many different types of treatment available in New London, Connecticut. No matter what, depression may get worse without professional treatment. Everyone experiences sadness and the occasional case of the blues. The difference is when the occasional sadness turns into a more constant feeling or interferes with normal, daily activities.
What is depression?
Depression is a condition or disorder that affects mood. Also, the symptoms of depression vary for each individual, but include extreme feelings of sadness, anger, or despair. In addition, depression therapy in the New London Connecticut area can provide positive coping tools. Depression symptoms don’t have to get the best of you. As well, your therapist can help you through creative expressive arts, painting, art, yoga therapy and even music therapy. For people with depression, it helps to have a variety of different tools to communicate what you’re feeling. In holistic depression therapy, you might connect through a song, and be able to talk about heartbreak through music. We offer beachside walking therapy for depression coping tools. So, you may even want to go outside for a walk and talk session by the beach.
We offer integrative, holistic, lifestyle coping tools in Southeastern Connecticut for managing depression and sadness.
What are the impacts of depression on the lifespan?
Depression can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, gender, ethnicity, race, or socioeconomic background. However, older adults are a group that is majorly at risk for depression. Older adults are at higher risk of depression because they have friends who are sick and dying. In older years, adults are grieving the losses of friends or family members. As well, for older adults, there is a a lack of socialization and health issues are increasing. So, an older adult you may know may be silently suffering from depression.
Without depression counseling in New London, Connecticut, how does depression look?
Feeling sad or hopeless on a regular basis can affect many areas of life. Depression can result in struggles with employment, friendships, relationships, daily hygiene, and eating behaviors. With depression symptoms, it might feel like you can not get out of bed. Perhaps, you wish you could feel more motivation and be happier. It all seems impossible right now with the heavy feelings of depression. You know you want to enjoy life again. However, with depression, it feels like you no longer have an interest in the hobbies you once enjoyed. Overall, the team at Wisdom Within Counseling offer speciality holistic depression help in New London, Connecticut and over video.
To begin, click the button below to schedule a free phone consult and begin depression therapy in New London, CT.
Sometimes, depression happens because of life events, circumstances, or situations.
Children, families and adults who have experienced abuse or trauma are at a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms. Perhaps, in your childhood, you parents had alcoholism and drug problems. And, you identify as an adult child of alcoholics. In younger years, your parents may have neglected your emotions. Perhaps, you feel angry at your parents or distant from them now in your adult life.
Experiences of childhood trauma can make a need for depression counseling in New London, Connecticut later in life
Childhood trauma, loss, pain, and neglect that is lingering can lead to depression in adult years. As well, if your parent has mental health issues like bipolar disorder, it is very normal for you to have depression. Other causes of depression include a family history of mood disorders, drug use, or uncertain medical conditions. Depression can also be caused by a chemical imbalance or childhood trauma experiences.
Sometimes, adults with depression will take part in negative behaviors such as alcoholism. When experiencing childhood trauma or loss, an adult make take part in problem drinking behaviors themselves to numb out. Other negative coping tools for depression include technology addiction and gaming addiction. Furthermore, when people are suffering from depression and trauma symptoms, they may have problems with over eating. As well, you may experience oversleeping, lack of routine, disorganization, troubles going to work or school, and body image issues.
If you are struggling with any of these issues like oversleeping, disorganization, or needing to make healthier friends, our team at Wisdom Within Counseling would love to support you.
At Wisdom Within Counseling in New London, Connecticut, we specialize in treating depression in a holistic way. As well, you may have been trying a variety of different therapists and you just didn’t find the right fit. Our team goes the extra mile to offer holistic, integrative, alternative, lifestyle coping tools that help you practice self-care and build self-love. At Wisdom Within Counseling, we specialize in helping people with depression build confidence and clarity.
Symptoms of Depression
In general, depression results in overwhelming feelings of sadness and a lack of interest and enjoyment in life’s activities. Depression makes normal daily activities like personal care, eating, going to work, exercising, spending time with friends and family, and hobbies more difficult or even impossible to participate in and enjoy.
Noticing signs of depression and asking for help from a depression therapist in New London, Connecticut
Now, one common symptom of depression is changes in mood. For young children, changes in mood might need more crying, emotional outburst, or meltdowns. On the other hand, for an adult, a mood change might look more like crankiness, annoyance, or having a short temper. As well, changes in mood can mean feelings of intense sadness, mood swings, despair, or crying for all ages. To note, depending on the day and the experience that is triggering the symptom, different symptoms may arise. One moment, you might feel heaviness and like sleeping in bed all day. Then, the next moment, you might feel angry or like crying. Also, mood changes could also result in feelings of anger or irritability.
Talking about changes in an appetite are part of depression counseling
Individuals with depression may experience changes in their appetite. This can result in eating more or less and can cause changes in weight. Adolescents and adults experiencing depression may also lose their sexual interest and desire.
What is brain fog?
Cognitive abilities may also be affected. Depression may cause it to be more difficult to concentrate, focus, complete tasks, or engage in conversations with friends or family. Those who are feeling depressed may experience extreme fatigue, tiredness, and trouble sleeping.
Suicidal thinking is a side effect of depression
To begin, some individuals with depression may experience thoughts of suicide or other types of reckless behavior. If someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts, they need immediate professional help. Now, if your teenager is saying they no longer want to live, this is a major red flag. Or, if your teenager is telling you that no one would miss them if they died, this is a reason to seek professional depression therapy in New London, Connecticut.
Suicidal thinking and depression
Our team at Wisdom Within Counseling support adolescents and young adults with depression who also need help with suicidal thinking. Often, suicidal thinking is because someone feels hopeless, unlikable, or unwanted. Additionally, adolescents may feel left out from a friend group or hurt from bulling at school. Often, feeling overwhelm, depression, and anxiety might make a teen feel like taking their life is their only option. So, working with a professional therapist that specializes with suicidal teenagers can help your adolescent develop lifelong coping strategies. At Wisdom Within Counseling in Southeastern Connecticut, we frequently help teenagers who need to stop self harming and cutting, learn healthy outlets for big emotions.
Along the southeastern Connecticut shoreline, we help adolescents learn to love and accept themselves.
If your spouse is struggling with suicidal thinking, get professional help right away. So, you can go to your local emergency room or call 911 as well as the suicide hotline. Suicidal thinking is not some thing to take lightly. Now, if your teenager has recently been hospitalized for suicidal thinking and needing a therapist, our team would love to help.
Wisdom Within Counseling specialize in helping teenagers and adults who struggle with suicidal thinking using creative art, yoga, music and outdoor walking therapies.
Remember, we all have feelings of sadness, anxiety, or loneliness from time to time. These feelings are a normal reaction to life’s events, stressors, and grief. However, depression causes these feelings to persist and interfere with normal daily activities.
What are the different types of depression and symptoms of depression?
There are different types of depression. The signs and symptoms may vary from individual to individual, but there are similar characteristics in the different types of depression. Knowing the type of depression is helpful in getting the proper treatment.
Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder is a serious form of depression. Individuals usually experience extreme sadness and hopelessness that remain for two weeks or more.
Persistent Depressive Disorder
Mild depression is also called persistent depressive disorder. So, with persistent depressive disorder, it is less severe than major depressive disorder. But, it is chronic and lasts longer. Symptoms can last for two years or more but are milder than the symptoms of major depression.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression can occur after the birth of a child. Furthermore, postpartum depression is some thing that can affect both spouses and family members. Additional siblings may be feeling different emotions about a new sibling. To add, postpartum depression is a very lonely and valid experience. And, this experience after birth often does not get the attention it deserves. Yes, postpartum depression impacts all members of the family. Indeed, men and women all experience postpartum depression at times.
So, if you or your spouse is struggling with postpartum depression, our team provides positive lifestyle changes that can support a brighter outlook on life.
Sometimes, postpartum depression is from the shifts and hormones after birth. Other times, it can come from the overwhelm and massive change in identity with a new role of parenting. Plus, positive coping tools support postpartum depression. Seasonal affective disorder is when individuals experience more depressive symptoms in the winter months.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect those who have experienced a traumatic event or seriously threatening situation. PTSD affects the neurological system, and symptoms must persist for over 30 days to be diagnosed with this condition.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterized by mood swings between depressive episodes and manic episodes. Manic episodes are the opposite of depression and include extreme energy levels.
Treatment for Depression- Therapy in New London, CT
Treatment is necessary for individuals with depression. The difficult thing is that treatment plans vary depending on the individual, so it may take some trial and error to find the right treatment. The good news is that proper treatment can result in improved symptoms within a few weeks.
Common treatment options include medication, therapy or counseling, diet improvements, or healthy eating. Medications such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, and antipsychotic medications can be used to treat depression.
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any herbal supplements or alternative remedies. Some of these may be marketed to help treat depression, but may not actually have research to back up their claims. Some herbal supplements may also interfere with prescription medications.
Work with a depression and trauma specialist if you have been struggling for some time
Therapy and counseling are important to help individuals struggling with depression recognize and deal with their feelings and moods. Regular therapy can help manage depression and improve mood and relieve feelings of sadness.
For individuals in Connecticut, you can find resources for counseling in Southeastern Connecticut to help if you are experiencing feelings of sadness, anxiety, or mental health issues. Others may benefit from anxiety counseling in East Lyme, Connecticut.
Exercise and physical activity also have a positive effect on your mind and mood. Exercise is another great treatment for depression because it helps increase the production of endorphins. Even just a 30-minute walk a few days a week can be useful in treating depressive symptoms.
To begin, click the button below for a free phone consult! We can help get you started in therapy for depression in New London, CT.
How can we prevent symptoms of depression with therapy in New London, CT?
It can be difficult to prevent depression, but keeping yourself healthy is important. Lifestyle, sleep, and exercise changes can help prevent or manage depressive symptoms.
Stay sober and healthy
Avoiding alcohol and drugs can make depressive symptoms worse, so some individuals may need to avoid these substances. Alcohol and some other drugs are central nervous system depressants, which is why they can make symptoms worse.
Use positive coping tools from seeking depression therapy in New London, CT
Using effective coping methods helps manage the life events that may cause sadness or stress. Stress management techniques also help improve overall mental health and well-being.
Balance sleep, work, exercise, and responsibility to manage depression
Ultimately, taking care of your overall health by getting enough sleep, socializing, exercising, having a good support network, and eating healthy can go a long way in preventing and managing depression.
At Wisdom Within Counseling, our therapists can help!
We work with those suffering from depression, offering therapy in New London, CT. Our therapists are LGBTQIA+ affirming and work with individuals of all ages. We would be happy to connect you with a specialist on our team and support you on therapeutic journey.
Melissa Morris is a guest writer for Wisdom Within Counseling. She writes and researches for the life insurance comparison site, LifeInsuranceTypes.com. Also, she has a master of science degree in exercise science, is a certified exercise physiologist, and a certified sports nutritionist.
