Do you feel as though you are living in a dark empty cave? Do you see the smiles and hear the laughter of those around you, but it all seems so hollow? Maybe you try to force a smile, hoping they won’t notice how much effort it takes. There’s such a heavy weight of sadness inside you, it’s hard to feel much else.
Does any of this sound familiar? If you have felt this way for more than a couple of weeks you may be struggling with depression. Depression affects your ability to concentrate and reduces your productivity. Since you feel so badly, it can make being around other people challenging. You might even find yourself irritable and lashing out at loved ones. This can create rifts in your relationships and only adds to the sense of loneliness and isolation.
If you have been living with depression, you are not alone. According to the CDC, 1 in 20 Americans age 12 and older are currently experiencing depression. In fact, it is one of the most common mental health concerns faced by American adults.
Causes of Depression
Depression can be caused by a number of different factors. As you might be aware, feeling depressed can be brought on by biological factors such as imbalances in the neurochemicals in your brain. That’s why doctors and psychiatrists often prescribe medication to help with depression. There are also genetic factors that can make a person more vulnerable to low mood.
However, the true picture of what causes depression is very complex and often cannot be explained by biological or genetic factors alone. There are also environmental factors such as prolonged exposure to highly stressful situations, familial conflict, financial instability, or a chronic illness. Many people find that their depression strikes more often during certain seasons of the year. Having an unresolved trauma is often a culprit that leads to depressive episodes. It’s important to understand the biological, genetic and environmental factors in order to create a treatment plan that will lead to results.
Even if you understand the causes of depression, it’s very common to isolate and feel as if no one can help you. However, there are many well-researched and proven treatments for depression. Since depression is often caused by a number of factors, we take a holistic approach to addressing the issue.
Step 1: Physical Health
First, we will help you identify activities that will help you re-engage with life and rediscover your sense of joy. We will begin by looking at ways to improve your overall physical health such as diet, exercise and sleep habits since these can have dramatic impacts on your mood. We also frequently recommend that our clients get physicals to rule out any possible underlying health problems that might be contributing to depression, such as hypothyroidism.
Step 2: Relationships
As we stabilize your physical symptoms, we will explore ways that you can improve the significant relationships in your life. Tragically, depression often leads people to want to withdraw from others or believe that they are not worthy of love. By leaning into meaningful connections you can dramatically reduce the symptoms of depression.
As your therapist, we will work with you to identify your relationship strengths and target areas for relationship growth. This allows us to determine strategies to maximize what’s going well while also receiving support and guidance around what you’re struggling with. For example, we might explore how you can bring even more joy and intentionality into positive relationships or how to overcome anxiety when meeting new people.
Step 3: Psychological Wellness
One of the most important components of depression is how it operates in your mind. Therefore, it’s essential to address this to have a long-lasting impact. You will learn strategies for combating the negative thinking that comes part and parcel with depression. You will also learn how to improve your self-esteem through practices such as self-compassion and identifying and modifying unhelpful beliefs you have about yourself.
We want you to take a moment and envision your life without depression. What would your life be like? Imagine feeling vibrant, healthy, joyful, and surrounded by people who love you. If you can keep that vision close to your heart and seek out professional help, there’s nothing in the way of you attaining the life you are meant to have.
We look forward to hearing from you so we can begin the journey towards abundant life together.
~The Trinity Team
If you have been living with depression, you are not alone. According to the CDC, 1 in 20 Americans age 12 and older are currently experiencing depression. In fact, it is one of the most common mental health concerns faced by American adults.
Causes of Depression
Depression can be caused by a number of different factors. As you might be aware, feeling depressed can be brought on by biological factors such as imbalances in the neurochemicals in your brain. That’s why doctors and psychiatrists often prescribe medication to help with depression. There are also genetic factors that can make a person more vulnerable to low mood.
However, the true picture of what causes depression is very complex and often cannot be explained by biological or genetic factors alone. There are also environmental factors such as prolonged exposure to highly stressful situations, familial conflict, financial instability, or a chronic illness. Many people find that their depression strikes more often during certain seasons of the year. Having an unresolved trauma is often a culprit that leads to depressive episodes. It’s important to understand the biological, genetic and environmental factors in order to create a treatment plan that will lead to results.
Even if you understand the causes of depression, it’s very common to isolate and feel as if no one can help you. However, there are many well-researched and proven treatments for depression. Since depression is often caused by a number of factors, we take a holistic approach to addressing the issue.
Step 1: Physical Health
First, we will help you identify activities that will help you re-engage with life and rediscover your sense of joy. We will begin by looking at ways to improve your overall physical health such as diet, exercise and sleep habits since these can have dramatic impacts on your mood. We also frequently recommend that our clients get physicals to rule out any possible underlying health problems that might be contributing to depression, such as hypothyroidism.
Step 2: Relationships
As we stabilize your physical symptoms, we will explore ways that you can improve the significant relationships in your life. Tragically, depression often leads people to want to withdraw from others or believe that they are not worthy of love. By leaning into meaningful connections you can dramatically reduce the symptoms of depression.
As your therapist, we will work with you to identify your relationship strengths and target areas for relationship growth. This allows us to determine strategies to maximize what’s going well while also receiving support and guidance around what you’re struggling with. For example, we might explore how you can bring even more joy and intentionality into positive relationships or how to overcome anxiety when meeting new people.
Step 3: Psychological Wellness
One of the most important components of depression is how it operates in your mind. Therefore, it’s essential to address this to have a long-lasting impact. You will learn strategies for combating the negative thinking that comes part and parcel with depression. You will also learn how to improve your self-esteem through practices such as self-compassion and identifying and modifying unhelpful beliefs you have about yourself.
We want you to take a moment and envision your life without depression. What would your life be like? Imagine feeling vibrant, healthy, joyful, and surrounded by people who love you. If you can keep that vision close to your heart and seek out professional help, there’s nothing in the way of you attaining the life you are meant to have.
We look forward to hearing from you so we can begin the journey towards abundant life together.
~The Trinity Team
Hope starts here!
Call 816-425-1382 or email info@trinityprocounseling.com to set up your first appointment.
Call 816-425-1382 or email info@trinityprocounseling.com to set up your first appointment.