Getting Counselling for Depression

Recognising the Symptoms of Depression

People with depression often isolate themselves. They retreat from the world (often unconsciously) as a means of coping with unpleasant or unwanted feelings.

 

Often too, they don't want to 'burden' friends and loved ones with their low mood or worries, so they keep their issues to themselves. For someone suffering from depression, it may often seem easier to be alone, but this can only add to a person's isolation and general lack of enjoyment with life, continuing that cycle of unhappiness.

 

Approximately 1 in 6 Australians will suffer an episode of depression in their lifetime. As with any mental health issue, depression can affect each of us in different ways, but common symptoms include:

 

• overwhelming tiredness

• irritability

• trouble focussing or concentrating on work

• difficulty sleeping, or sleeping more than usual

• changes in eating patterns (eating more 'feel good' foods)

• difficulty with memory (e.g. remembering 'a time when things were better')

 

Such symptoms often accompany negative thoughts like:

 

• I'm a failure

• I'll never get through this

• What's the point? I'm useless

• I'm just a burden on loved ones

• I'm powerless to change anything

 

Causes of depression, similar to anxiety, are often found to be long standing issues. Again, there may be a family history of depression indicating a genetic predisposition.

 

However, depression can also be triggered by loss, and loss comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. When significant loss comes on top of existing life stress, then an episode of depression may occur. 'Loss' can include:

 

• loss of relationship(s)

• loss of job

• loss of financial security

• loss of health

• loss of stability

• loss of home

• loss of a loved one

• loss of independence

 

The good news is that depression is very treatable, and can be dealt with via a range of 'evidence-based' psychological therapies. 

 

What does a Psychologist do in Depression Counselling?

 

For the patient, counselling for depression involves:

 

• Clearly identifying possible events that have led to sadness and exhaustion;

• Understanding how these events have affected their thinking and behaviour.

 

As a Psychologist, these are the practices involved in helping a patient reach those goals:

 

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Essentially, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) used in depression counselling sessions is about changing the negative mindset often found in people with depression.  CBT involves becoming more aware of particular thoughts in particular situations (e.g. "I'm useless".  "Things will never get better"), and challenging their truth (e.g. Maybe sometimes I am useful? )  CBT also increases your awareness of what feelings are triggered when you have such thoughts and realising that such thoughts are only adding to your low mood.  Cognitive Behaviour Therapy has a proven track record is returning joy to people's lives.

 

Behavioural Activation

As with anxiety, going through counselling for depression will mean engaging in coping strategies more likely to alleviate your depression, rather than add to it. For example, a common coping strategy of people with depression is to withdraw. They withdraw from family members, spouses, social events, family occasions. What this effectively does is to limit opportunities for fun, connection and enjoyment. Behavioural Activation helps a person with depression learn that acting on their feelings is not always the best. Sometimes they need to do things they do not feel like doing initially, but after having made the effort, will begin to notice an improvement in their mood and energy.

 

Are you suffering from depression, and want to seek help? Call or book an appointment today, or get to know more about Toowoomba-Oakey Psychologist Dr. Clive Williams.