Depression is a widespread mood disorder that affects millions of people in the U.S. annually. Although it’s common, experiencing a depressed mood can be incredibly challenging. From intense sadness to feelings of hopelessness, depression takes a serious toll on daily life, making even the smallest daily tasks feel insurmountable.
If you’re struggling with depression, therapy can help you minimize the adverse effects of your symptoms so you can begin leading a more satisfying life again. Telehealth options make it easier than ever to access the high-quality mental health care you deserve, as you won’t even need to leave your Maitland, Florida, home. Learn about online depression therapy from the team at Image & Likeness Counseling here!
Depression Isn’t the Bad Guy
Depression, like all emotions, can be a healthy way for your mind to cope with difficult experiences. Take a moment to think about a time in your life when you were very sad. Maybe you wept or had a low mood for an extended period. These feelings of depression allow you the time you need to process the difficult situation that triggered feelings of sadness. Mourning following a loss, feeling empathetic sadness for someone else who is having a difficult time, or feeling sad for any other reason can be helpful. As you process the experience, these feelings diminish. You start to feel less depressed, more energetic, and eventually, you feel like you’re back to being yourself.
Understanding Depression Better
Many people who struggle with depression have heard loved ones tell them things like:
- “Find a way to feel happier.”
- “Find something to be happy about.”
- “Stop focusing on being sad.”
- “Just get out of bed and do something today.”
To people who don’t struggle with depression, these may sound like simple requests, but for those who are trying to live their lives and overcome feelings of depression, this is much easier said than done. In the case of the mood disorder “depression,” feelings of low mood, helplessness, hopelessness, physical exhaustion, lack of motivation, and even thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation may not be directly linked to one experience that triggers a period of depression. Instead, depression seems to happen out of nowhere, and rather than being alleviated naturally over time, depression lingers, becomes more intense, and makes it more and more difficult to live a healthy, satisfying life.
So, Where Does Depression Therapy Come Into Play?
When people experience intense feelings of sadness and a low mood or depression that lasts for weeks or months, therapy is a good idea. But even though it’s a common condition, depression can be difficult to overcome. It strips energy from people and reduces satisfaction and joy. This makes even the smallest tasks, like taking a shower, difficult. Finding the energy to schedule a therapy session may be a challenge, and then even in therapy, doing the work of learning and using the coping strategies your therapist is teaching can feel overwhelming.
Your therapist can’t promise it will be easy, but they know the real benefits of simply making the time and space for yourself to learn new ways to manage the impact of depression on your day-to-day life. At Image & Likeness Counseling, our team regularly partners with people who are struggling with depression. Our depression therapy is designed to meet you where you are to minimize the struggle. With just a little bit of commitment, we help clients make small changes that deliver big results.
How Do I Get Started?
Depression strips away the sense of joy and satisfaction from daily life, but you don’t have to settle for living with these negative impacts. Instead, consider reaching out to Image & Likeness Counseling in Maitland for an online depression therapy session. During your appointment, we can discuss the way that depression impacts your day-to-day life and explore coping strategies to start making every day a little better. Get in touch today!