Depression

Depression can feel like that gloomy cloud that follows you all the time. You start acting like Eeyore from Winnie-the-Pooh, or Sadness from Inside Out. Sadness is a normal emotion but when it starts to control most of our life and turns into depression then it can cause serious problems.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” (Psalm 40: 1-3)

Did You Know?

• Depression ranks among the top 3 workplace issues in the U.S.
• Depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. among people ages 15-44
• It is estimated that 7% of the general population suffers from depression
• Nearly 15% of women suffer from postpartum depression within 4-6 weeks of giving birth
• 30% of college students report feeling depressed, which disrupts their studies
• Two-thirds of people with depression do not seek nor receive proper treatment
• 80% of people treated for depression show improvement within 4-6 weeks

Common symptoms include: Feeling helpless or hopeless, apathy, general discontent, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, sadness, excess sleepiness or restless sleep, fatigue, loss of appetite, excessive crying, suicidal ideation, irritability, social isolation, lack of concentration, slowness in activity, and weight gain or loss. Sometimes depression is also accompanied by anxiety. Working against depression can feel exhausting and it can be heartbreaking to watch someone you love suffer from Major Depression.

Recommended books:

The Catholic Guide to Depression: How the Saints, the Sacraments, and Psychiatry Can Help You Break its Grip and Find Happiness Again, by Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, with Fr. John Cihak. Countless Christians, including Saints, have suffered pervasive sorrow that would be diagnosed as “depression” today. Faith and devout prayers were not enough to ease their suffering. In this book, Catholic psychiatrist Aaron Kheriaty reviews effective ways to deal with depression while integrating both science and faith.

The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brené Brown, offers encouragement and helps improve self-esteem. Through Brown’s storytelling and her “ten guideposts,” she helps her readers explore ways to live more authentically and practice a life that is perfectly imperfect.

How We Can Help: 

If you or a loved one suffers from one or more of the symptoms listed above, counseling can help give insight about your emotions, challenge the negative thoughts that steal your joy, and provide emotional support. Another way counseling can be helpful is by discussing the negative thoughts and ideas of perfection. If you don’t meet your expectations completely, do you suddenly assume you’ve failed? By challenging the automatic negative thoughts, our clients can work on building different expectations that could be considered more realistic. Counseling can also reduce stress and anxiety, which are oftentimes factors in depression. Being overwhelmed with what’s happening in your life can lead to feelings of helplessness and even hopelessness.

Our Lord wants to make your joy complete. He wants you to know that your life has meaning and worth. He wants to see you rise above the depression. And so do we. We all deserve to feel fully alive. As professional counselors, we are ready to give you the help you or your family needs to overcome depression. Let’s work together and get to the bottom of your depression so that you can soar to new heights.