What is Depression?
Have you ever felt like you’ve lost the spark that once made you feel alive—and wondered if it will ever come back?
It’s possible you’ve tasted what it is to feel depressed. What is true about depression is that it’s more than merely feeling sad or having a bad day. This is a medical and emotional condition that affects mood, energy, thoughts, and behavior. What I can also say with confidence is that this is not a sign of weakness, but it is a warning sign that something deeper needs attention. The most recent diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) involves experiencing five or more of the following symptoms for at least two weeks: depressed mood most of the day, diminished interest or pleasure in activities previously enjoyed, significant weight loss or gain (without dieting), trouble sleeping, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, trouble concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation (DSM-5 TR).
How Depression Shows Up
Some describe depression as a feeling of numbness or heaviness, rather than sadness. This is evident throughout the list of symptoms above, but the condition most clearly impacts motivation, thinking, and even physical health. It is also important to clarify that depression might appear differently in different people. Someone might present as “high-functioning” and happy on the outside while feeling very low, suffering deeply on the inside.
Causes of Depression
No one thing can be pinned as the cause of depression. There are typically biological, psychological, and environmental factors at play. Some examples of these are genetics, brain chemistry, trauma, chronic stress, loss, and major life transitions. While finding the cause cannot make the struggle disappear, it can be comforting to begin to name potential sources of such a disorienting experience. More than anything, it is crucial that we avoid oversimplifying this condition as merely a chemical issue or simply a mindset problem.
There is Hope
Depression can make the future feel hopeless, but you can have hope that more is available to you, and your current struggle does not have to be the end of the story. Psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, and medication are all available as effective ways to treat this and often best when utilized together. Movement, connection, routine, nature, and rest are just a couple of those lifestyle changes. Healing takes time, and small steps are so valuable. It can be easy to stay put and isolated in the feelings of depression, but the first step might be moving toward another who cares and is equipped to walk with you in the pain. When might it be time to seek professional help? Once symptoms last more than two weeks or have begun to interfere with your daily life, relationships, or sense of self. No matter what, there is hope and help that is readily available for you. Maybe there is a way to clear out the depression altogether or at least begin to learn to overcome it when it threatens to persist. Whether or not you feel fully ready to tackle it, there are a diverse team of therapists at Restoration Psychology ready to walk with you. You’re not broken—you’re human, and you deserve care.
We offer in-person sessions at our centrally-located office in Centennial, CO. If you’re a little further away, don’t worry we also offer virtual sessions. Reach out today!