Individual & Couples Counseling In Denison, TX

Depression

DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE? DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH FINDING THE ENERGY TO DO THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO?

Do you feel weighed down by dark feelings of emptiness and sadness that just won’t let up? Do you feel lonely and that you just plain don’t matter? Maybe you’re feeling guilty or ashamed because you can’t enjoy the company of loved ones. Perhaps you feel like a robot that is just going through the motions and carrying out the same routine day after day after day. Maybe you’re frustrated because you can’t find pleasure in the things you once loved. Is it so challenging for you to stay on task at work or even stay on task at home that you have to muster up the little energy you do have to do just the simplest things, and even that leaves you exhausted? Perchance you feel overwhelmed because you just don’t know where to begin, that you don’t have control over what’s happening to you, or maybe even that you don’t have a purpose. Your family members may even accuse you of shutting down or not being present. Everyday can literally seem worse than the one before it. Do you wish that you rekindle or find that passion for life that seems so elusive?

Living with depression can be scary, can seem never ending, and can be isolating and lonely. It may feel like you’ve been hit head on by a semi going 80 miles per hour, and before you even have a chance to get up and brush yourself off, another car comes along and hits you even harder. You may have achieved what others deem as success, but are still devoid of interest and may still be doubting yourself. Maybe you just had a life changing event, such as a death in the family, a move, a divorce, or a loss of a job. These changes could have caused you to ask yourself, what’s the point? Why bother? Why try?

DEPRESSION IS ON THE RISE IN THE UNITED STATES

Did you know that the National Institute of Mental Health calculated that 16 million adults age 18 or older had at least one major depressive episode in the past year? This represents 6.9 percent of all U.S. adults. Sadly, this number does not account for all the people who never get diagnosed or seek treatment. These statistics make depression one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in the United States.

There are many reasons why someone can be depressed. Some people are genetically hardwired to be depressed (the chemicals in their body are off). People can also become depressed after they’ve experienced major life changes, such as a divorce, a death, or another traumatic experience. The severity and length of depression varies from person to person.

DON’T STRESS OUT JUST YET – THERE’S HOPE

You may be saying to yourself right now, “Oh my gosh, I had major life changes AND I have a family history of depression; I’m doomed!”

There is hope out there. Remember when I said that depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders? I should tell you that depression is one of the most successfully managed and treated disorders too. With the right types of medications and the most effective forms of therapy for depression, you can successfully manage your depression. You can’t always control what happens to you, but you can improve how you handle those situations. This means that you can find balance and peace in your life. You can have meaningful connections with people again.

WHAT CAN DEPRESSION TREATMENT DO FOR YOU?

First and foremost, it can give you back the quality of life that YOU want. Depression treatment via CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) has proven to be one of the most effective ways to combat depression and regain control over your life. Many people experience a sense of relief and make meaningful changes in their life fairly quickly.

In our sessions, I will teach you how to shift your thoughts and ideas on life to ideas that are meaningful and happy for you. Plus, you will learn how to create sustainable change in your life. CBT helps you to focus more on the present moment than reliving (and possibly resenting) the past or worrying about the future. I can help you change behavior.

We will explore the root causes of where your sadness and beliefs about yourself and the world come from. Most people who are depressed are self-critical and really hard on themselves. By exploring the root causes of your sadness and beliefs, you will be able to find relief from your criticism and maybe even criticism of others. In our time together, we will also explore your strengths, what makes you feel valuable, and you will be able to build on these strengths. With help and perseverance, it is possible for you to find your potential and rekindle your passion for life.

YOU MAY STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT TREATMENT

I don’t want to re-hash my past; is that necessary?

Not necessarily, but the past could be important for what we are working on. If your past keeps coming up in your present, we may need to look at those triggers. For example, if your current relationship with your child reminds you of your relationship with your own parents and it’s causing you distress, it is worth exploring. Ultimately, I prefer to try to stick with the present and will respect your wishes as much as possible.

I have heard depression treatment can take years. Is this true?

This isn’t always the case. Obviously, time frames for treatment will vary person to person depending on the nature of their problem and how active they are in engaging in their own treatment. Most of my clients will leave every session with goals that they will work on between sessions, which can drastically cut down the time treatment takes.

What about medication management? I don’t want to be a guinea pig until they find a medicine that works for me.

Medications are increasingly being used as a last resort, but sometimes medications are necessary for you to be able to process and apply what you are learning in therapy. It may help to ease your mind that there are affordable tests called Genome Testing that can test to see what types of medications will work and be most effective for you, and which ones you should steer clear from. The tests are often covered by most insurance plans, but if your insurance doesn’t cover them or you do not have insurance, the mental health test costs 99 dollars or less. If this is something that interests you, we can arrange for you to be tested. If you want more information, you can go to pathway.com and look up “mental health dna insight.”

I would like to extend the invitation for you to call me for a free 15 minute phone consultation to discuss your specific needs and to answer any questions you have about depression treatment, CBT, my practice, or therapy in general.

“Brittainy is a compassionate and knowledgeable counselor who is skilled at using CBT counseling to help her clients achieve their goals. I have worked with her for years and have seen her help people becoming happier and healthier. She is a counselor who is trustworthy and ethical.”

-Mollie VanDeusen, LPC