Depression

What is depression?

Depression is not just a periodic case of the “blues.” Depression can be a condition that may affect how you think, feel, and act. Everyone feels sad or low sometimes, but these feelings usually pass with a little time. Depression (also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is different. It can cause severe symptoms and affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or going to work or school.

It is suggested that genetics, biological, environmental, psychological implications, grief and loss, and noteworthy to mention covid and the pandemic, may have a role in your feelings of depression.

What are the symptoms of depression?

Common symptoms of depression include: 

• Persistent feelings of sadness.
• Anxiousness, or “empty” mood.
• Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and/or despair.
• Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness.
• Guilt, fear, or worthlessness.
• Loss of interest or pleasure in regular activities.
• Decreased energy and fatigue.
• Difficulty with sleep, difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
• Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes.
• Physical symptoms, like aches, pains, and headaches. 

When untreated, depression may increase other conditions and contributing factors of health, be a barrier to your quality of life, and lead to unwanted thoughts of self-harm. 

How Gerri treats depression?

You may feel sad and could benefit by speaking to someone you can connect with for relief to move forward. You do not need to exhibit all of these symptoms to have depression. Even one or two symptoms may be beneficial and a reason to reach out for support. The good news is that depression is treatable. 

If you have symptoms of depression, including persistent sadness and hopelessness, that make daily life difficult, you may be ready to help. Treatment for depression is a customized experience with Gerri. She finds it important to build rapport and develop a connection for safe and trustful communication. This is a key element to understanding your feelings and how depression affects your daily life, including your family, work, social connections, and how depression may be affecting your daily physical health.

Counseling for depression includes a combination of talk therapy and cognitive behavior counseling to assist in becoming aware of uncomfortable patterns, which can help you reframe your thinking during moments of heightened feelings of depression and collaborate to develop coping skills, like meditation or journaling, discuss for those struggling with self-medication of substance use.

It is noteworthy to mention there may be common denominators of symptoms, thoughts, feelings, and physical symptoms among individuals, including covid pandemic experiences. However, each person may look and feel differently. Gerri encourages you to maintain or re-establish social connections, to promote feeling valued and supported.   

Gerri listens and validates individual experiences, uses evidenced based screens, monitoring, scaling and self-report, and collaborate with individual to develop tailored plan and treatment solutions. 

If medication is considered, Gerri may assist you in locating and collaborating with medication treatment providers.    

Gerri M. Parrish, LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor, CAADC (Certified Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor), provides support to build connections as a therapeutic foundation to support their personal and individualized experience of depression, all which can “promote emotional health, instill hope & inspire a healthier sense of well-being.”  If you or a loved one would like support, call today to set up an appointment or use this website.

If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org