When you’re in the grips of depression

One of the worst things we can hear when we are in the throes of depression is to “snap out of it”. It’s not a state of being that we can leave easily. Depression is a mood that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and create a loss of interest in things that usually make up happy or keep us engaged. Depression can affect how we feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. Difficulty just doing normal day-to-day activities can happen, and sometimes it may feel as if life isn't worth living. Problems can seem overwhelming as well.

Depression can be a reoccurring bout of the blues or something more serious that lasts longer. It can be unrelated to how well our lives are going on the outside. Depression is not a weakness and you can't simply "snap out" of it. Depression may require long-term treatment. But don't get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy or both.

Telling ourselves that things are not that bad, or that other people have it worse or that there’s something wrong with us only exacerbates the feelings and prevents us from taking steps to deal with it.

Together we will work together to find the root cause of depressive feelings and also manage the symptoms of your depression. We’ll look at coping strategies for when you are not able to function or get yourself out of a hole. Depression can be debilitating and affect the quality of your life. The sooner you find help, the quicker you’ll be able to go back to appreciating the beauty of life.