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I draw from a variety of therapy styles including:
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It’s normal to have a low mood day, and some people experience low mood periods their lives. So when is a low mood depression, and how do you know when to seek treatment?
Depression and chronic low mood is the result of a discouraged lifestyle. The person often has a negative view of themselves, others, or the world around them, or any combination of the three. When we dig deeper into the experience of depression, oftentimes we can identify patterns of feeling discouraged across the lifespan. A tendency to pull away from others, self-isolate, and feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness, or helplessness are common.
Sometimes a person who develops low mood and responds to life with feelings of discouragement has had earlier experiences where they felt discouraged. Depression is the learned response to attempts to have their needs met. When depression is first experienced later in life, it can be a response to oppression or the perceived futility of a situation. Challening the underlying mistaken beliefs that support depression and learning how to cultivate joyfulness and overcome the negativity bias can help counteract depression.
Symptoms of depression can include: feelings of enduring sadness, pessimism, a sense of failure, loss of pleasure, hopelessness, self-incrimination, helplessness, irritability, social withdrawal, indecisiveness, excessive sleeping, feeling excessively tired, decreased appetite and weight changes, and preoccupation with health issues and/or appearance. Suicidal ideation is common, although many people experience depression and low mood without suicidal thoughts. If many of these symptoms describe your experience, it’s a good time to seek mental health support.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, do not hesitate to call 911. Crisis line and mental health resources are located on this page.
Treatment for depression can help alleviate low mood by targeting mistaken beliefs, introducing strategies to increase energy, creating routines for a healthy mind and improving overall sense of satisfaction and well-being.
Example treatment plan for depression: