DEPRESSION COUNSELING

As experts in depression counseling and other mental health issues, our licensed professionals at NorthStar Regional understand that mental health problems are difficult to face.
man in purple suit sitting across from red-haired woman

Depression Counseling

As experts in depression counseling and other mental health issues, our licensed professionals at NorthStar Regional understand that mental health problems are difficult to face.

Introduction

Depression Counseling

What is Depression?

Have you been exploring the possibility of depression counseling? Depression is a medical and emotional illness that influences young and old, rich and poor. It taps the shoulder of men and women alike. It may be chronic or merely episodic. Depression is global, indiscriminate toward race, has no cultural limitations, comes dressed in a myriad of dark colors, and often appears dreadfully unique. If it has hurt you once in the past, it can hurt you again. Struggles with depression are common for clients with various mental health concerns. The good news is that depression counseling and treatment works.

Depression Counseling and Treatment Work

Even though depression is complicated and life-encompassing, finding a sense of normalcy is possible. Depression is rarely, if ever, a one-issue illness and its treatment must be comprehensive. It most often encompasses social, relational, occupational, financial, spiritual, emotional, and medical facets of life. More simply stated, depression touches every part of you. To be effective, treatment must target the troubled areas of living. If it has damaged you physically, medical intervention may be necessary. If it has weakened you socially, depression counseling must help strengthen your relationships. Going to the hospital for a few days when you are suicidal is vital, but it is not treatment for depression. An overnight stay in the psychiatric ward doesn’t solve problems, target issues, or supply comprehensive intervention to the many areas of life often ruthlessly ravaged by depression. A hospital stay may be an entrance ramp on your road to recovery, but should rarely, if ever, be regarded as the finish line.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Depression

Social anxiety is best defined as an excessive fear of social situations and affects 2-13% of the US population. About one in five clients with a social anxiety disorder also suffers from an alcohol or substance use disorder. Social anxiety disorder is anxiety about and in social situations that goes beyond shyness. It often includes a fear that one is being watched and judged by others. They are often afraid of several situations, rather than one specific thing, and may have trouble speaking in public, interacting with others, or giving a report in a group.
  • Sad mood or crying spells
  • Low energy
  • Low motivation
  • Guilt, remorse, regret
  • Sleep problems
  • Loss of interest in usual activities
  • Loss of enjoyment
  • Low sex drive
  • Appetite changes
  • Pessimism
  • Trouble making decisions
  • Low self-esteem
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Irritability
  • Hopelessness
  • Helplessness
  • Fatigue
  • Moving or speaking slowly
  • Unexplainable aches and pains
If you have experienced any of these symptoms of depression, our professionals at NorthStar Regional are here to help you to recovery through our depression counseling programs.

Reducing Depression

While depression can feel overwhelming, small things can make a big difference to help in your recovery. Look through the list of suggestions below and consider how you might practice a few, beginning today.
  • Be aware of what is causing your depression.
  • Be optimistic about the future.
  • Get socially active and find good emotional support.
  • Make a weekly schedule of your daily activities and do not forget to include social activities.
  • Do some volunteer work to keep yourself active.
  • Be aware of your negative thoughts and replace them with positive ideas.
  • Focus on your positive experiences.
  • Review what went right today, not what might go wrong tomorrow.
  • Base your mood on your positive character traits rather than your weight, size, or general appearance.
  • Exercise daily.
  • Set realistic goals and learn to accept that everyone has different abilities.
  • Concentrate on your unique characteristics and positive accomplishments.
  • Get professional help if depression symptoms persist.
  • Depression counseling can help increase problem-solving skills.
  • Learn to examine and change negative thought patterns, find more adaptive behavior patterns, resolve relational conflicts, and learn social skills.
  • Consider using an antidepressant medication if you do not see improvement. Contact your physician for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
  • Get your mind off your problems. If you over-think your problems, they begin to crowd out all the good happening in your life. Give issues the thought they deserve, but allow yourself time to have fun. Read a book, pursue a hobby, or engage in a favorite activity.
  • Watch for warning signs of all-or-nothing thinking. Look for thoughts like “I always perform poorly on important projects at work,” or “I will never get over this break-up,” or “Now that the first night of my vacation went poorly, the whole trip is ruined.” Such thoughts can lead to generalizing one negative experience to other situations or the same situation in the future. For depressive thinkers, their whole world can crumble like a house of cards when one thing goes wrong.
  • Think about seeking cognitive therapy and depression counseling. Someone with a depressive mindset may not meet the criteria for clinical depression but can likely benefit from cognitive therapy to help battle against depressive thoughts. Therapists using this technique teach their clients how to identify their particular depressive thoughts and then provide methods to challenge, negate, or fight against them. Through depression counseling, it really is possible to boost your mood by changing the way you think.

Moving Forward in Hope

Better Days Ahead

For someone battling depression, life can feel like an endless storm, a bottomless pit, and a night that never ends. The good news is that depression is treatable. Find good, solid support for your fight against depression and find people who also support your recovery. Hope is knowing better days are ahead. Even during the darkest night, we know morning is coming. With our depression counseling programs, we are here to help you through this journey.

Contact us today to speak to one of our professionals about depression counseling and treatment. We are here to help.

Additional Information

Our experienced depression counseling staff will:
  • Provide individualized treatment
  • Utilize cognitive behavioral therapy to address depression
  • Help you make informed decisions regarding your mental health
  • Provide individualized treatment
  • Utilize cognitive behavioral therapy to address depression
  • Help you make informed decisions regarding your mental health