Need someone to understand what you are going through?
Experiencing Sadness or Depressive symptoms?
"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you." ~ Maori Proverb
Depression and depressive disorders commonly result in feeling exhausted, helpless, hopeless, and sad. It's like everything that once seemed bright and shiny has disappeared behind a big black cloud. These negative thoughts and feelings can override a person's life and interfere with normal everyday functioning and living. Negative thinking begins to dissipate with counselling and therapy, and depression becomes manageable if not completely goes away with time and patience.
With counselling, possibly medication, a healthy lifestyle, or a combination of these treatments, you can, and will feel better. Contact one of Niagara Counselling Services counsellors today. However, there are some simple things you can do right now that can begin to address the issues of concern. We are here for you, contact us today.
Depression and depressive disorders commonly result in feeling exhausted, helpless, hopeless, and sad. It's like everything that once seemed bright and shiny has disappeared behind a big black cloud. These negative thoughts and feelings can override a person's life and interfere with normal everyday functioning and living. Negative thinking begins to dissipate with counselling and therapy, and depression becomes manageable if not completely goes away with time and patience.
With counselling, possibly medication, a healthy lifestyle, or a combination of these treatments, you can, and will feel better. Contact one of Niagara Counselling Services counsellors today. However, there are some simple things you can do right now that can begin to address the issues of concern. We are here for you, contact us today.
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o Set goals that are realistic. Sometimes the expectations we have for ourselves assume more responsibility than is humanly possible.
o Prioritize and manage larger tasks by breaking them down into smaller ones. o Surround yourself with people who are positive and encouraging. Confide in someone you trust; being alone while depressed can only intensify feelings of isolation, despair, and loneliness. o Find and activity you like and participate in it! Make time to do the things you enjoy and that make you feel better. o Know that mood often improves gradually. Try not to expect instant results, feeling good can take some time and effort. |
o Try to make important and life changing decisions such as job changes, divorce, selling a home, etc. until after your depression has lifted. You’ll find your point of view has shifted to a more objective one once you feel better.
o Discover what YOU like to do, and do it. o Shift your negative thinking patterns to more realistic and positive ones. Remind yourself that you are a good person, and worthy of respect and happiness. o Sing and dance! Engage in creative activities that allow your inner artist to shine! Let yourself go in these activities. o Family and friends are there to help, let them. Treat, and value yourself the same way that you would want to be treated. |
Signs of Depression:
According to the DSM-IV, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychiatric Disorders, major depression is diagnosed if you have at least five of the following nine symptoms for two weeks or more:
1. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
2. Diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities of the day, nearly every day.
3. Significant weight gain ot loss when not dieting, and a decrease in appetite nearly every day.
4. Insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much) nearly every day.
5. Abnormal restlessness or a drop in physical activity nearly every day.
6. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
8. Diminished ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions nearly every day.
9. Recurrent thoughts of death, or recurrent suicidal thoughts with a specific plan; or a suicide attempt; or a specific plan for committing
suicide.
According to the DSM-IV, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychiatric Disorders, major depression is diagnosed if you have at least five of the following nine symptoms for two weeks or more:
1. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
2. Diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities of the day, nearly every day.
3. Significant weight gain ot loss when not dieting, and a decrease in appetite nearly every day.
4. Insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much) nearly every day.
5. Abnormal restlessness or a drop in physical activity nearly every day.
6. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
8. Diminished ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions nearly every day.
9. Recurrent thoughts of death, or recurrent suicidal thoughts with a specific plan; or a suicide attempt; or a specific plan for committing
suicide.
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