Depression
Feeling sad at times is normal and healthy.
But constantly feeling empty inside is not.
You used to laugh, feel joy, and get excited. You felt connected to others. You had hopes, dreams, and desires. You looked forward to the weekend. You couldn’t wait.
Now you just feel numb. Feeling like a shell of what you used to be. You don’t want to get out of bed. Eating too much… or not enough.
Thinking you’re not loveable… not worthy. You just don’t care anymore. Nothing is working. You are sure nothing you do will make a difference.
What happened?
Life is hard, but it’s not supposed to be this hard… this often.
When you don’t know why you’re depressed…
… it can make things even more confusing and lead to more feelings of hopelessness. Sometimes depression is largely genetic, and we can’t relate it to any specific life event.
Or the cause might be obvious.
Maybe you suffered a horrible loss of a loved one. Major life changes typically cause stress, anxiety and depression.
I have worked with women dealing with postpartum depression. The cause might be hormonal, but the experience itself makes it worse… feeling disconnected, numb, and having feelings of guilt.
I’ve had many clients come in feeling depressed and not know why, only to realize they are being haunted by a history of abuse they thought was behind them.
We often feel depressed because of relationships that should be so different than they are.
Depression is not weakness. It’s a natural response to distress that gets carried away.
Depression is very real, and it’s not your fault. There are steps you can take to feel better.
Meeting with a trained mental health professional…
… is an essential start to feeling whole again.
I will help you break the cycle of depression. There is great power in telling your story to a trained professional. My nature is to be caring and compassionate, but that’s not enough.
With my training and experience, we will be able to find solutions that work for you. It might include making changes in your daily routines. It will be extremely important to identify negative self-talk. We will practice replacing it with realistic self-talk. Notice I didn’t blindly say “replacing it with positive self-talk.”
I’m not going to be falsely optimistic or blow smoke. I am going to help you develop skills to manage your life as it actually is. That includes making realistic changes, and it includes letting go of things you can’t change.
You don’t have to do this alone!
We all need help sometimes, and that’s not a sign of weakness. Making the decision to face your depression is an incredible sign of strength.
Call me today: 630.730.5123. I would love to help. I’m ready when you are.