Psychotherapy for Women & Teen

Depression is one of a mood disorder described as feelings of sadness, loss or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities, it is common that feeling low at times. Sad and upsetting events happen to everyone. But, if you are feeling down or hopeless on a regular basis, then that is depression, which can get worse without proper treatment.

Symptoms Include,

• • • Irritability
    • Anxiousness
    • Restlessness
    • feeling empty
    • Sad
    • loss of interest
    • thoughts of suicide
    • difficulty in sleeping
    • sleeping too much
    • weight changes
    • inability to concentrate
    • Pains
    • headache
    • digestive problems

The severity of depression can vary: a mild depression might not stop you from doing your normal activities, although it can make them harder to do and things might not feel worthwhile; when depression is more severe it can leave you feeling suicidal and unable to function normally. Depression can have many causes – for some people there are clear triggers, but others can find it difficult to understand why they are depressed. It is thought that between 3 and 7 people out of every 100 will experience depression every year. Fortunately, there are many effective psychological and medical treatments for depression, Those who seek treatment often see improvements in a few weeks.

What causes depression?

There is no single cause for depression. Some of the factors that make it more likely that you will experience depression include,

• • Critical incidents which kick-start the depression. These can include losses (e.g. bereavement, the end of a relationship, losing a job, children leaving home), transitions (e.g. leaving home, retiring, having a baby), physical illness, loneliness, or any other significant or stressful events.
  • A tendency to think negatively. More than just a pessimistic attitude, this is an automatic ‘habit’ of seeing the worst in things (“glass half-empty thinking”).
  • Early experiences which made you vulnerable to depression. These can include abuse, neglect, bullying, poor relationships, living with a parent who was depressed or had emotional difficulties, or losses.
  • Holding unhelpful beliefs and assumptions. For example, “unless I succeed in all areas I am worthless”, “I should be happy all the time”, “I can’t be happy unless I am loved”. These are often closely related to our early experiences (see above).

Mood swings are excessive or rapid changes in your frame of mind. Your mood may suddenly shift from elation and euphoria to extreme sadness or terror, and then on to another emotion. In some cases, mood changes are reactions to your environment or circumstances, although the intensity of the mood might seem out of proportion with the significance of the event. In other cases, mood swings may occur for no apparent reason.

Moods are thought to result from interplay of chemicals in the brain; the cause of mood swings is not known, but they may be related to imbalances in these chemicals.

Mood might also be affected by sleep, diet, medication, and other lifestyle factors, and shifts in these may affect the stability of a person’s mood.

Individuals facing changes or difficulties in life may be more likely to experience sudden, unexplained changes in mood. For example, many teenagers may find themselves experiencing frequent and varied mood swings. Issues regarding identity, self-image, and acceptance may contribute to these emotional changes. A person who is under a significant amount of stress might also have a greater chance of experiencing mood swings. When a person experiences high levels of stress, even a small negative occurrence might lead to abrupt shifts in mood.

I can often help a person identify whether mood swings occur as the result of a mental health condition or as a symptom of some other type of concern. Whether mood swings occur as a result of some type of mental or emotional distress or are particular to a certain situation, therapy can often assist in the process of identifying the causes of highs and lows as well as situations that may cause one’s mood to fluctuate. Therapy can also help people develop coping strategies to deal with stress as they arise. In therapy, one might also be able to learn to become better able to focus on the present moment with a general goal of learning how to constructively manage moods and maintain a healthy emotional balance.

Anxiety is characterized by overwhelming worry, fear or concern ultimately interfering with one’s quality of life and ability to function effectively at work, school or home. People with anxiety state can feel profoundly depressed but usually this depression is a direct result of feeling chronically anxious.

Symptoms include,

• Nervousness
• Fearful
• Restlessness
• Tenseness
• Shortness of breath
• Trouble sleeping and stomach issues

Anxiety disorders are impossible to develop schizophrenia and impossible to become Manic depression.

Common anxiety disorders include:

• generalized anxiety disorder
• agoraphobia(fear of places and situations)
• panic disorder
• phobias including social phobias
• obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD)
• post traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)
• aversion disorder
• anxiety disorder due to a medical condition

Anhedonia, or the inability to feel pleasure during pleasurable activities, occurs as a part of a number of conditions. It is also considered a central feature of depression. It becomes impossible to draw enjoyment from things that once elicited excitement, such as music, sex, food, and conversation.

• Social anhedonia. You don’t want to spend time with other people.
• Physical anhedonia. You don’t enjoy physical sensations. A hug leaves you feeling empty rather than nurtured. Your favorite foods taste bland. Even sex can lose its appeal.

The symptoms of anhedonia include:

• social withdrawal
• a lack of relationships or withdrawal from previous relationships
• negative feelings toward yourself and others
• reduced emotional abilities, including having less verbal or nonverbal expressions
• difficulty adjusting to social situations
• a tendency toward showing fake emotions, such as pretending you’re happy at a wedding
• a loss of libido or a lack of interest in physical intimacy
• persistent physical problems, such as being sick often

Anhedonia makes relationships, including those with friends and family members, a struggle. With the reward of enjoyment gone, it’s hard to get motivated to spend time with others. You might turn down invitations and skip events like concerts, parties, and even one-on-one get-togethers because you no longer believe there’s any benefit in taking part Or you could have social anxiety. You feel like you don’t fit in, especially when meeting new people.

Over recent years, anhedonia has received increased attention. Part of the reason for this is that it predicts how well someone with depression will respond to treatment.Common antidepressants tend to work less well for people who have depression with anhedonia than for those who have depression without anhedonia. There is evidence to suggest that the presence of anhedonia increases the risk of committing suicide, recognizing and dealing with anhedonia could save lives.

Grief and loss can be associated with any stage of life. Even the death of a pet or moving to a new house can cause a person to grieve. Grief is associated with any kind of loss and will vary in length and intensity. Students experiencing homesickness during the first few weeks of college are experiencing a loss (parents, home, friends, etc.) and are, in a sense, grieving.

In addition to the emotional pain already discussed, symptoms of grief can be physical, social, cultural, or religious in nature. Physical symptoms can range from mild sleep or appetite problems to heart attack. Social symptoms of bereavement include isolation from other loved ones and difficulty functioning at home, school, and/or at work.

The five stages of the grief cycle that she outlined are

denial,

anger,

bargaining,

depression,

acceptance.

The grieving process is often harder when the person has unresolved feelings towards or conflicts with the person who has died. People who are struggling with complicated grief may find it helpful to talk with a counselor.