Calgary Depression Therapy

Depression

Feeling sad, blue, down, depressed or irritable?

Feeling sad or blue when you go through a difficult life experience is part of being human. Depression on the other hand, is more than just a passing low mood or simple unhappiness. It is not something people can simply “get over” or “snap out of” on their own. Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects all aspects of your life. It involves negative thinking, low mood, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, loss of energy or fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and a lack of enjoyment in doing just about anything.

Depression can adversely affect mental process like attention, focus, memory and decision-making. It can negatively impact your relationships and your ability to show up at work or school. It can impact a variety of physiological processes, including sleeping and eating habits, and immune function. It can lead to fatigue, irritability and restlessness, and can even lead to physical pain, such as headaches or chronic muscle aches.

Is depression stopping you from living the life you want?

Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression and it is a leading cause of disability worldwide.

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

The symptoms of depression vary from person to person, but common symptoms include:

  • persistent and intense feelings of sadness, frustration or frequent crying

  • feelings of excessive guilt, hopelessness and worthlessness

  • irritability, restlessness or anxiety

  • loss of interest or enjoyment in everyday activities

  • insomnia and decreased libido

  • changes in weight or appetite

  • lack of energy or persistent fatigue

  • inability to concentrate, or unhelpful thinking patterns

  • in more severe cases, thoughts of death or suicide

What Causes Depression?

Depression is extremely complex and there is currently no clear consensus on what causes it. Rather, researchers believe that there are many potential causes of depression, including trauma, abuse, stressful life events, genetic vulnerability, brain chemistry, serious illnesses, loss of a loved one, and certain medications.

Depression comes from the late Latin word depressare and the classical Latin word deprimere. Deprimere literally means “press down”; de translates into “down” and premere translates into “to press”.

The term conveys a feeling of heaviness, of being “pressed down,” of being “sad,” “blue,” or “down”.

How is Depression Treated?

Thankfully depression is highly treatable and therapy can help you manage and overcome depression.

My depression therapy aims to help you:

  • Become happy again

  • Find joy in your life

  • Start doing the things you enjoy

  • Regain energy and enthusiasm

  • Uncover core issues that are driving your depression under the surface

  • Connect with the people you love

  • Cultivate self-acceptance and self-compassion

  • Build a sense of resilience and learn skills to prevent you from becoming depressed again

I offer in-person sessions for depression in my Calgary office, as well as on-line sessions for clients located anywhere in Alberta.

What are the Types of Depression?

There are several types of depression, each with a different set of symptoms and treatment methods. The most common forms are:

Major Depressive Disorder: This is the most common form of depression. It is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness and despair most of the time (e.g. most of the day, nearly every day over a 2-week period).

Symptoms may include:

  • depressed mood (e.g. sadness, emptiness, hopelessness)

  • lack of energy or fatigue

  • difficulty concentrating or making decisions

  • loss of interest or pleasure in most activities

  • significant changes in weight or appetite

  • insomnia or hypersomnia

  • feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
    recurrent thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia): This is less severe, but more chronic (long-term) form of depression characterized by a low or sad mood. People with this type of depression can often function day to day but feel “down in the dumps” for most of the day, almost every day, for at least 2 years (or at least 1 year for children and adolescents).

Symptoms may include:

  • changes in weight, appetite or sleep

  • low energy or fatigue

  • low self-esteem

  • difficulty concentrating or making decisions

  • feelings of hopelessness

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): This form of depression is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. Symptoms are linked to a woman’s menstrual cycle and typically begin 7-10 days before menstruation and begin to improve a few days after menstruation starts.

Symptoms may include:

  • mood swings (e.g. sudden feelings of sadness or irritability)

  • crying and emotional sensitivity

  • depressed mood (e.g. feelings of hopelessness, overwhelm or self-criticism

  • intense anxiety, tension or restlessness

  • diminished interest in regular activities

  • difficulty concentrating or making decisions

  • loss of energy or fatigue

  • changes in appetite

  • insomnia or hypersomnia

  • physical symptoms (e.g. breast tenderness, swelling, joint or muscle pain, bloating or weight gain)

Perinatal Depression: This is a mood disorder that can affect women during pregnancy and after childbirth. Perinatal depression includes depression that starts during pregnancy (called prenatal depression), and depression that starts after the baby is born (called postpartum depression). Mothers may feel experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety and fatigue that impede their ability to manage daily tasks, including taking care of themselves and the baby. Perinatal depression is different from the “baby blues” (e.g. mild mood changes, worry, unhappiness and exhaustion some women experience in the first 2 weeks after childbirth). If mood changes or feelings of anxiety are severe, or last weeks to months, a woman may be experiencing perinatal depression.

Symptoms may include:

  • persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood

  • irritability or restlessness

  • feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness or helplessness

  • loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities

  • fatigue or loss of energy

  • difficulty concentrating or making decisions

  • difficulty sleeping (even when the baby is sleeping)

  • changes in weight or appetite

  • thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): This type of depression is also known as seasonal depression or winter depression. People with SAD can experience mood changes and symptoms similar to major depression that usually occur during the winter and fall months and improve in the spring. SAD is different that just having the “winter blues” and the symptoms can be distressing and interfere with daily functioning.

Symptoms may include:

  • feelings of sadness, worthlessness or guilt

  • loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities

  • changes in appetite or weight

  • changes in sleep

  • loss of energy or increased fatigue

  • restlessness or slowed movements and speech

  • difficulty concentrating or making decisions

  • thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts