community psychological services

cps

a non-profit organization
proudly serving the community since 1982.

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Depression

• Do you feel anger, confusion, hopelessness and helplessness?

• Do you have trouble sleeping or sleep too much?

• Have you lost interest in activities and people?

• Do you lack a sense of pleasure in life?

There are different types of depression that can range from feelings of sadness to feeling of helplessness and hopelessness.  Some people experience more symptoms than others and the severity of symptoms can vary over time. 

 

Some signs of depression are:

• sad or empty feelings
• loss of interest or pleasure
• feelings of fatigue or insomnia
• loss or increase in appetite
• difficulty concentrating
• restlessness
• irritability

Depression can affect men and women, children and the elderly.

Sadness over the loss of a loved one, or divorce, or job loss can cause a change in mood.  Depression is different. 

Depression can interfere with a person’s ability to function or to feel pleasure and actively participate in relationships.

 

Often depression includes loss of self esteem, disruption in family functioning, and work productivity.  Depression also changes how one feels and thinks.  It usually affects behavior.  Some people who suffer from depression report having always felt depressed.

 

How Therapy Can Help

 

Psychotherapy is effective in reducing and managing the symptoms of depression.  Often, antidepressant medication is also recommended.

Therapy can help you explore the unrealistic expectations about your life and your environment.

It can help you to change negative views of the world and of yourself which may be causing some of your sadness.  You can address feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. 

 

Often a person suffering from depression needs an objective, trained professional to help them prioritize which problems are critical and which are not.  Counseling helps a person identify what can be changed and provides the necessary coping skills to lessen self-criticism.

 

Psychotherapy can help a person develop the skills and behaviors which can reduce or alleviate the stressors which contribute to the depression.  Therapy can foster an improvement in social skills which then positively impacts relationships.