Here’s how counseling for depression can create positive change
By: Jennifer Lawal, LPC
Do you struggle with depression? Hoping to find a therapist in Chicago that understands your issues? Wondering if counseling can help you? If so, you wouldn’t be alone.
For most Chicagoans struggling with ongoing sadness, the saying that “Depression hurts” isn’t just an actual experience that repeatedly interferes with our daily lives, it is one that is all too familiar. Similar to changing seasons, our mood changes; however, living with ongoing depression with no relief in sight can feel as though you are walking around with constant fog and cloud over you.
Like with all mental health disorders that should be taken seriously and treated with the best possible treatment (s), depression is no exception. And while it is true that it can hurt and living with it day in day out can be a painful experience, it also lies and often presents itself in different shapes and colors.
Related: Can a Psychologist in Chicago help with depression and anxiety?
If you live on the North Side, like Lakeview or Uptown, and have ever experienced what it feels like to be depressed, you would understand that there is nothing about this illness that should be ignored. Even when you’re in the midst of it, it might be very difficult to see the lies or believe that what you are actually feeling is real.
That is why it is all the more important if you are feeling depressed to connect with a therapist who understands what you’re going through and can provide necessary support towards to productive life.
That being said, living with ongoing persistent depression or otherwise known by its clinical term “Dysthymia” is no joke. But there is good news! Yes! getting therapy for your ongoing depression can be one of the interventions to help lift the lingering cloud. But first, it is important to know that Dysthymia or ongoing depression is usually a mild to chronic form of depression where the individual has experienced ongoing symptoms (ups and downs), often lasting for at least two years. If this sounds like you, then getting therapy can help.
FACT:
You should know that according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “dysthymia affects approximately 1.5% of the adult population in the United States. 49.7% of these cases are considered “severe” and the average age of onset is 31 years”.
Here are 5 Ways Therapy can helps with ongoing Depression
1. Therapy Can Help You Take The Next Step
Unlike other forms of depression, where psychotherapy can be as effective of a treatment, ongoing persistent depression might require a combination of interventions in order to achieve good long-term outcomes.
If you have dealt with your depression alone for a very long time and continue to out of the fear of being prescribed medications, then starting therapy and working with your therapist can help assess and discuss the benefits of combining other interventions, such as antidepressant as part of your treatment goal.
For most individuals, the idea of taking medication is often a frightened one. But it is important to keep in mind that for people suffering from ongoing depression, a combination of antidepressant medication and high-quality, structured psychotherapy can provide much-needed relief and make a big difference in your mood.
You and your therapist can discuss types of antidepressants for treating dysthymia and go over some of the side effects with you.
2 Assess and Monitor Changes
Getting therapy for ongoing depression can help assess for any changes in mood, monitor improvement or decline in symptoms and provide psychoeducation for medication compliance if needed. It is true that it can be difficult to tell if anything is changing or if the medication is even working if you have been dealing with depression long-term.
Your therapist can periodically assess your mood for any significant change and suicidal thoughts– before symptoms worsened and provide appropriate interventions to help you increase your coping skills.
3. Support Is Key
Similar to other forms of the blues, getting support is crucial and necessary for healing. For people who suffer from ongoing depression, one of the notable symptoms is isolation or lack of interest in doing anything. Given that depression hurts-both physically and mentally, going to a weekly therapy session can be one of your only support systems.
As a result, no matter what the form of psychotherapy used to treat your depression, supportive measures are important-not just in discussing depressive symptoms, but in decreasing isolative behaviors and increasing overall motivation.
4. Managing and Coping with Depression
I don’t need to tell you that coping and dealing with depression is difficult, one that can feel like a never-ending battle with yourself. However, studies have shown that some psychotherapies–notably cognitive, interpersonally-oriented, or behavior therapy with social skills training – tend to have a good prognosis, with or without antidepressant medication.
The goal of therapy is to help you develop appropriate adaptive coping skills to help manage your symptoms. So when you are at your lowest, you can utilize some of the skills provided in therapy to help manage negative thoughts and mood changes.
5. Show You Your Strengths
While it is very difficult to notice some of your own strengths and positive traits when you have been depressed for a long time, therapy can be helpful in discounting the negatives and highlighting the positives. Been able to celebrate small milestones and encouraging positive habits are also important in improving mood and overall well-being.
Remember that even though depression hurts, you don’t have to live with the pain for the rest of your life. Getting therapy is the first step to living a more productive and liberated life.
