Depression takes on many forms, some more serious than others. Occasionally, you may feel "down in the dumps" or as though the weight of the world is on your shoulders. For some individuals, this feeling can last for weeks, months, or even years. Major depression is a serious medical illness and requires appropriate treatment for persons afflicted to lead normal lives.
Counseling takes into consideration the client's environment, moods, and external influences. Symptoms include:
- Persistent sadness, hopelessness, pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and sex
- Decreased energy and feelings of fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
- Insomnia and oversleeping
- Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
- Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
- Restlessness, irritability
- Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
Depression counseling also involves investigating the patient's family history for signs of mental illness among relatives. While studies show that some types of depression run in families, not everyone with the same genetic makeup will suffer from the illness. Environmental factors may also play a part.
Physical changes caused by diseases such as cancer, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and others can also bring on depression. Please call A Peaceful Balance Clinical Consultation and Consulting Services at (603) 577-5551, or email info@apeacefulbalance.com, to learn more about how we can help.