Depression Treatment

"All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination." -Earl Nightingale

Do You Feel Unmotivated And Lethargic?

Are you sapped of energy and focus? Has a depressive mood settled over you, sucking the joy out of everything you encounter? Feeling dissatisfied with your circumstances, have you become hopeless that things will ever change?

When depression sets in, it can feel like you’ve been drained of your life force. Daily activities like going to work, running errands, and seeing friends may become too much to bear. As motivation plummets and indifference takes over, you may be spending most of your time in bed or on the couch.

You Might Be Avoiding Social Situations

Perhaps you isolate yourself from others because your distorted thinking would have you believe you have nothing to offer them. And yet, the more you spend time alone, the worse you feel, perpetuating your sadness, despondency, and a growing sense that nothing matters.

At its worst, depression feels like a heaviness in your body, as if you’re moving through wet cement. Your lack of energy may be exacerbated by disruptions in your sleep habits, either sleeping too much or not enough, as well as your diet. Whether you tend to overeat or skip meals, you may feel tired, unfocused, and lethargic.

Even if you feel hopeless right now, with treatment, it’s possible to recover from depression. By making your mental health a priority, you can find a counselor who can help you gain insight into your challenges and, together, find solutions and strategies for keeping depression at bay.

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Depression Affects 1 In 10 People

It is estimated that “around 10 percent of Americans suffered from depression in the past year.” What is alarming is that new studies are finding that teens and young adults—ages 12-25—are the demographic experiencing the highest increase of depression. Further, women are nearly twice as likely as men to suffer from depression.

In addition to our mood, depression affects us by impairing how we function in all aspects of life, including our sleep, appetite, concentration, energy level, physical health, and social life. Sometimes depression can be brought on by an unexpected loss or sudden change, like the death of a loved one, a breakup or divorce, losing a job, financial stressors, medical issues, or having a baby. It comes as no surprise that during the Covid-19 pandemic, depression spiked.

Taking Medication For Depression Can Present Pitfalls

Although, under the right circumstances, antidepressant medications can be beneficial, people don’t always use them responsibly. Wanting a quick fix with no self-reflection required, sometimes we hastily turn to antidepressants, which don’t work in every circumstance, and in some instances can make symptoms worse. Medication may also be taken inconsistently—discontinuing it once we start to feel better—or along with alcohol, both of which can result in negative side effects.

Sadly, we might allow the stigma attached to depression treatment to prevent us from seeking help or mistakenly believe that therapy doesn’t work, cutting off this lifeline can make our symptoms persist longer than they need to.

With therapeutic treatment for depression, you open yourself up to a world of self-discovery and new possibilities. Working with a therapist you trust, you can examine the underlying reasons that depression is an issue for you and unlock the potential within yourself to find more positive ways of coping.

Getting Treatment Can Help You Escape From The Dark Cloud Of Depression

I realize the energy you’ve had to summon to consider seeking help. This is a big step and one that should be acknowledged for its potential to be life-changing. Depression therapy allows you time and space to talk about vulnerable topics you may never have talked about before. By getting the thoughts out that have been bottled up inside, you will be better able to make sense of your situation.

As a therapist who understands depression, I aim to ensure that you feel heard and understood while discussing your options for treatment that will be based on your unique needs. If at any time you feel overwhelmed, we can pump the breaks. Counseling will be a time to learn valuable skills to help cope with depression and, in so doing, find that there is hope for you no matter how you may feel.

What To Expect In Sessions

We will explore the timeframes of when your depression started and the circumstances you were living in when it was at its worst. Examining what was going on during that time in your life as well as other factors that may have played a part in your low mood will help us understand the underlying reasons why you may have remained depressed without realizing it.

One of the most important components of recovering from depression is self-care. By assessing your sleeping, eating, and hygiene habits, we will develop a plan that may include regular physical exercise, healthy nutrition, goal-setting, and guided visualizations. We will also use brief solution-focused therapy to address small tasks that can be handled daily to further develop better self-care habits. Defining your values, life goals, and what makes you happy will be another way that we keep you moving positively forward.

CBT For Depression

Your thoughts affect how you feel and behave. In counseling, we will focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you challenge your negative core beliefs and reframe negative or distorted thinking patterns that may be contributing to depression. Additionally, for times when you may be stuck dwelling on the past and living in a world of regret, learning mindfulness-based skills will help ground you in the present moment. Additionally, we’ll explore helpful coping skills together and ensure you know how to implement them in between sessions.

Although attending therapy takes effort, and there may be some days when you don’t think you have the energy or ability to come in for a session, depression is treatable. Your more difficult days are when you need therapy—and will benefit from it—the most. Just know that this is your session and that we will go at your own pace. And once your focus shifts, things will get better.

But Maybe You’re Not Sure If Depression Treatment Is Right For You…

Do you treat Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Living in Western New York, we get more than our fair share of dark and cloudy days. Under these conditions, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can make us more prone to depression and consider seeking treatment. If you suffer from SAD, I will offer you helpful suggestions to counter the effects of dark days, like utilizing a lamp designed to counteract SAD, mindfulness techniques, and tips for creating a cozy and cheerful environment at home and work.

Does depression counseling have to include taking antidepressants?

I will never recommend you take a medication you don't want to take. And as a therapist and not a psychiatrist, I cannot prescribe medication for depression. Before considering antidepressants, we can explore various coping skills and behavior modifications that can be effective in decreasing depression symptoms. Only after we exhaust these softer approaches without success will I possibly refer you to a psychiatrist for further evaluation.

Do you take insurance that will cover my depression treatment?

I accept private pay clients only. There are a variety of reasons why I choose not to accept insurance, which I would be happy to further discuss with you. Although I don’t coordinate with insurance companies directly, if you have insurance, I can provide you with a form you can present for potential reimbursement. It may be a good idea to reach out to them first to see determine what out-of-pocket coverage they may offer.

Depression Doesn’t Have To Leave An Indelible Mark On Who You Are

Where there is therapy, there is hope. If you would like to find out more about depression treatment with me, you may call 716--817-0599, email me at lisamann@nyslmhc.com, or visit my contact page.