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Depression is often characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and a diminished interest in previously enjoyable activities. As a depressive disorder, it is classified as a serious medical condition that can significantly affect an individual's behavior and overall quality of life.
A combination of negative emotions and confusion may contribute to a disrupted lifestyle. Consequently, individuals experiencing depression may increasingly isolate themselves from friends, family, social events, and activities that once provided fulfillment. Such withdrawal can result in a diminished sense of purpose.
What are the potential causes of depression?
Depression may arise from a variety of causes, with multiple contributing factors. Specific events such as relationship difficulties, divorce, bereavement, job loss, retirement, or accidents can trigger depressive episodes. However, depression can also develop in the absence of identifiable external causes.
How do I know I am depressed?
There are signs to watch out for when it comes to depression.
Common signs are:
- Moodiness/irritability/anger
- Sleeplessness
- Change in eating patterns
- Tiredness
- Loss of purpose in life
- Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
- Inability to make decisions
- Trouble concentrating
- Physical aches and pains that do not respond to treatment
- Thoughts of death or suicide attempts
Are there established methods to assess depression?
I will conduct a structured interview and ask specific questions to assess whether you may be experiencing depression. Additionally, your general practitioner can perform blood tests to exclude other medical conditions associated with depressive symptoms.
How can I assist in your care?
With your consent, I can refer you to a general practitioner or your primary care physician, who can prescribe the most appropriate medication to alleviate your symptoms.
Antidepressants are frequently prescribed to help regulate brain chemistry. However, they are not intended as stimulants and do not produce a sedative effect.
So how do antidepressants work?
Antidepressants work by balancing the brain's chemicals (neurotransmitters) that affect your mood and emotions.
What additional approaches are available beyond antidepressant medication?
Through the use of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), we can work together to help you understand your experiences and identify strategies to address depression in a more restorative way.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an approach that addresses current challenges to support the treatment of depression. By identifying specific problems, you can modify thought patterns and behaviours, thereby promoting a more positive outlook.
By applying this therapeutic model, I can support you in navigating the challenges of depression, facilitating incremental progress toward recovery and stability with each session.
What are the costs of untreated depression?
- Addictions to alcohol and illegal drugs
- Poor relationships
- Lack of communication between loved ones
- Physical symptoms such as inflammation of the brain lead to seizures, confusion and hallucinations.
Myths about how to deal with depression
- Depression, like anxiety, isn't considered a real illness
- Only women are affected by depression
- Depression is similar to sadness
- Antidepressants can change your personality
- Having depression means you are weak
- Depression can go away without treatment
- Depression is a choice
- You can just “snap out of it”
- Medication is the best way to treat depression
- Keeping busy cures depression
FAQ
What therapies are used to treat depression?
My preferred model to treat depression is with the Emotionally Focused Therapy process.
EFT treats depression by understanding it as a response to emotional disconnection, attachment insecurity, and unprocessed emotional pain. Rather than targeting symptoms alone, EFT helps clients access and process underlying emotions such as grief, shame, fear, or loneliness that are often blocked or muted in depression.
In short, EFT treats depression by restoring emotional engagement and secure connection.
I can also do Behavioural therapy and cognitive therapy that may work effectively against depression. We refer to the combined therapies as “cognitive behavioural therapy” that addresses negative behaviour, thoughts and emotions. Brainspotting has also been shown to work well with depression.
Is depression here to stay?
EFT focuses on softening emotional withdrawal and self-criticism, strengthening emotional awareness and regulation, and creating new experiences of safety, responsiveness, and connection—either within relationships or internally. As attachment needs are met and emotions are processed, depressive symptoms typically lessen.
Can depression worsen without treatment?
If depression is left untreated, it can lead to addictions related to a substance (alcohol abuse) and drug use. Clinical depression, a major form of depression, leads to changes in your mood, behaviour and thoughts. Untreated depression can affect your relationships, personal life and work.
