Approximately 6.7 percent of the United States population aged 18 and older is affected by depression, with the median age of onset resting at 32. Getting depression help is essential, especially for those with other disorders and issues commonly linked to the illness including eating disorders, substance abuse and diabetes. Our team at Jennifer Hill Counseling can diagnose and treat your depression and help you regain the control and enjoyment that you once had in your life.

Signs and Symptoms

It’s normal to feel a little down every now and then, but clinical depression is a whole different animal – if you identify with more than five of the following symptoms listed below, you should seek treatment immediately.

• Consistently low mood
• Loss of interest in hobbies/activities
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Lack of concentration
• Fatigue
• Restlessness
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Weight loss or gain

Dangers

Without proper treatment, depression can lead to risky behaviors, substance use, unhealthy relationships and decreased physical health. Furthermore, it can affect your eating and sleeping habits and alter the way that you perceive yourself and others. Together, these risks can significantly decrease the quality of your life and compound the severity of your depression. The sooner you seek help, the easier it will be to deal with these problems.

Common Treatments

Psychotherapy and antidepressants are both common treatments for depression and they are sometimes used simultaneously. These treatments can help you out of the negative thoughts that consume your life and avoid the development of medical conditions associated with the mental illness.

Our Approach

Our team will focus on the thoughts and behaviors that underlie your depression and help you break free of them. Only once you recognize these thoughts and behaviors can you truly change them and learn to react to the world in a difference way.

Techniques

Some techniques that we utilize include journal writing and problem-solving in order to help you get your life goals into clear focus. In addition, we will examine the relationships that you have with others and their role in your depression. Often times, people with depression have toxic, unhealthy relationships with others that do nothing but make their illness worse. Identifying these relationships and either mending them or dissolving them is an important part of the recovery process.

Seeking depression help is the first step towards freeing yourself from the negative thoughts and behaviors that are preventing you from living a happy life. Although it’s a difficult process and a long journey, our therapy sessions will help you on the path towards your goal of getting your depression under control and living a happy life. For more information or to book a complementary help session, give us a call at 760-458-1600.