Counselling For Depression: How To Navigate Depression

Counselling for depression is essential for addressing issues that may be present in four domains of our lives including, social, psychological, biological, and environmental parts of our life. Working with a counsellor specializing in treating depression and exploring contributing factors that may be creating symptoms of depression is essential to stopping the vicious cycle of negative thoughts, emotions, and experiences, leading us to spiral. Depression is a struggle for people of all ages and can stem from biological, social, psychological, and environmental factors. Individuals seeking counselling for depression may find relief and clarity through talking with a counsellor and receiving client-centred therapy integrated with other therapeutic modalities, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based therapy.

Depression may be present for days, months, and even years and may be triggered at any moment, depending on the individual and their lived experiences. Often, depression is considered emotionally heavy and impacts our mental health in a way that can interfere with our daily routines, especially with socializing with others. When seeking counselling for depression with a counsellor, you may uncover specific symptoms that are consistent with depression including, social withdrawal and isolation, brain fog, down mood, tiredness and sleeping more, and changes in appetite. If you find yourself struggling with depression, know that you are not alone and that depression does not define who you are and is not a part of your identity. Working with a counsellor specializing in treating depression will allow you to uncover contributing factors triggering your mood and allow you to develop healthy coping methods.

Why Counselling for Depression is Essential

Counselling for depression is a necessary method and resource for understanding the root cause of depression, when it may have developed,   and developing tools and techniques to overcome the vicious cycle of depression. Depression may gradually appear in our lives, making it difficult to detect right away. Depression may be subtle; therefore, recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression is crucial, allowing individuals to take action and find the support they need before their depression becomes progressively worse.

Counselling for depression may also be a great method for reducing the onset of depression and can be used as a prevention tool. The most common signs of depression are a feeling of sadness, feeling overwhelmed, feeling irritable, withdrawing from others, and feeling more tired than usual. Depression may also be present in your life if you have a loss of enjoyment towards activities and interests you usually have, decreasing your joy and fulfillment in life. One reason people will develop depression in their lives is due to past experiences connected with certain emotions, mainly negative experiences and emotions. A few examples of negative experiences may include the loss of a loved one, work stress, relationship struggles, divorce and separation, and disappointments. Triggers may prompt an emotional response and memory of a negative lived experience from the past, creating other feelings to occur, such as anxiety, guilt, and hopelessness.

Depression may also be complex and have many factors contributing to its severity, such as compounding stress, traumas, and negative experiences, making it difficult for the brain to process and deal with everything effectively, resulting in a stuck feeling. Biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors all contribute to the onset and development of depression. There is evidence supporting depression developing due to a chemical imbalance in an individual and inheriting depression if there is a genetic predisposition. Consulting a registered clinical counsellor (RCC) and receiving counselling for depression is crucial to understanding where your depression stems from, including the biological, social, psychological, and environmental domains of your life, and exploring a treatment plan to help manage depression and resolve past traumas and negative affects that may be triggering the severity of your depression.

At Straight Path Counselling, our registered clinical counsellor (RCC) has many years of experience helping those suffering from depression, helping them navigate difficult emotions, experiences, and thoughts with empathy, understanding, positive regard, and a client-centred approach. Straight Path Counselling offers clients a safe and comfortable atmosphere to explore their thoughts and emotions without judgment. It is a priority and privilege to provide our clients with professional and ethical counselling services, integrating care and empathy to allow our clients to feel heard and seen.

What Depression Looks Like and How it Affects People

Depression can present itself in several ways, including psychologically, emotionally, physically, and socially. Individuals experiencing depression may notice one or all of these domains affected, manifesting in ways such as withdrawing from others to seek alone time, feeling a heavy emotional burden, experiencing poor sleep and tiredness, and irritability or mental fragility. One of the most common signs of depression is self-isolating and withdrawing from others in an attempt to self-soothe or escape the chore of putting on a mask to hide the sad emotions. Putting on a mask to hide difficult feelings can be very draining since it requires considerable effort and self-awareness, making the option of withdrawing more tempting. Another point to consider is the fear associated with taking off the mask that hides depression since it may signify vulnerability and exposure to the judgment of others. Another common sign of depression is a noticeable difference in sleeping habits, such as sleeping more often throughout the day or having poor sleep quality that leads to more tiredness. Oftentimes, individuals who are experiencing mild-severe depression may find that they have sleep disruptions such as waking up more frequently in the night, creating a broken sleep, and having nightmares or bad dreams.

Mood changes are a symptom of depression, making the individual feel like they are not themselves, such as bouts of irritability, frustration, anger, panic and anxiety. Depression may also affect concentration, cognition, and focus, creating brain fog and making it challenging to complete activities and tasks in an individual’s daily routine. Due to a shift in cognitive processing, individuals have described their depression as “going through the motions” and feeling disconnected from their surroundings and others. One explanation for this feeling of “disconnection” is a cognitive phenomenon known as cognitive dissociation. Cognitive dissociation may occur for many reasons, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and high amounts of stress, and is a protective mechanism for the brain and mind to distance itself from the difficult struggles that the individual is facing. Sometimes, when we are feeling extremely overwhelmed and cannot process the stress, depression, or trauma before us, our brains can help us by distancing and disconnecting temporarily from the external issue, allowing us to have some rest. Cognitive dissociation may present itself as a numb or “checked out” feeling in the individual and can signify that they have a dysregulated nervous system. It’s important to note that addressing cognitive dissociation and addressing the root cause is essential to processing difficult emotions, thoughts, and lived experiences, allowing the individual to heal and move out of the depression they are facing.

Depression has common symptoms and signs; however, it may affect each individual differently. Knowing that you are not alone and that you are worthy and matter to many people is crucial. Reaching out to your support group, consisting of friends, family, and a counsellor, is essential to overcoming and addressing depression. Something to remember is that depression does not define you and is not a part of your identity, but rather a signal that you must address root issues that are creating unwanted stress and sadness. Many of these root issues stem from the four domains in your life, including social, biological, psychological, and environmental, and locating the factors contributing to your depression is possible with a registered clinical counsellor.

The Ripple Effect: How Depression Can Affect Your Entire Being

When depression settles in, it does not just affect your mood; it influences your whole being. Depression can affect your relationships, work, and even your physical health. You might find yourself withdrawing from friends and family because of the amount of emotional energy it takes to engage with others, leading to an overwhelming feeling. However, practicing isolation and withdrawal from others can deepen your sense of loneliness and despair, leading to a vicious cycle that feeds into your depression and keeps you feeling stuck.

Your physical health can also become impacted by depression. Depression is known to affect sleep, appetite, and energy levels, but it can also lead to chronic aches and pains, headaches, or digestive issues. It can impair your immune system, making it harder to recover from illnesses. Sometimes, the body feels the weight of depression even when the mind struggles to articulate it. Depression also affects individuals at work or as they complete their daily activities, making tasks overwhelming and difficult to complete.

Counselling For Depression: Healing Takes Time, But There Is Hope

If you are struggling with depression or supporting someone who is struggling, it’s crucial to understand that healing is absolutely possible and that it often requires both time and support. Here are a few steps that may help you on your journey toward recovery:

  1. Acknowledge Your Feelings: The first step in addressing depression is recognizing it for what it is. Allow yourself to feel what you feel without judgment. Acknowledging your feelings allows you to develop self-awareness, connecting events or thoughts to your emotions. Depression is not a character flaw, and treatment must include kindness and care. Sometimes, acknowledging that something is not feeling right in you is the first step toward healing.
  2. Seek Professional Help: One of the best ways to cope and overcome depression is to seek help from a mental health professional. A registered clinical counsellor (RCC) can work with you to develop a treatment plan and provide you with tools to help you navigate difficult emotions. Talk therapy that draws on different therapeutic modalities, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy (SFT), or mindfulness-based therapy, can help you identify negative thought patterns and teach coping strategies.
  3. Lean on Support: Even though depression can make you feel isolated, remember that you don’t have to go through it alone. Cultivating a support group consisting of people you trust, including family and friends, may help you talk through some of the feelings you are experiencing and can serve as a distraction and motivator. Knowing someone is there for you can make all the difference.
  4. Take Small, Compassionate Steps: Healing from depression can feel overwhelming; therefore, it’s important to take things one step at a time and start with small goals, such as getting out of bed at a certain time, taking a walk, and having a meal. These small victories matter and add up over time, reminding you that you can manage each day, one moment at a time.
  5. Practice Self-Compassion: One of the most important things you can do is be kind to yourself. Depression often brings feelings of guilt or shame; therefore, it’s essential to remember that healing takes time. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small it seems. When hard days arise, remind yourself that you are worthy of love, care, and support.

Counselling For Depression as a Protective Factor

The path to healing may not always be smooth; however, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Depression does not define you; it’s a chapter in your story, and with the right support, treatment, and self-care, you can cultivate hope, joy, and peace in your life, thus building your resilience and mental strength. If you’re in the middle of a dark season, please remember this: your pain is real, but so is your ability to heal. Reach out, take small steps, and believe that brighter days are ahead. Our counsellors at Straight Path Counselling are equipped and ready to help you through this time in your life and are experienced in providing counselling for depression. With empathy and a strong client-centred approach, we are here to guide you on your path in life, helping you navigate difficult emotions.

You are stronger than you know, and things will get better with time.

Counselling for depression at Straight Path Counselling in Abbotsford.

Erica Fussi, M.A, B.A, RCC

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