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Depression Treatment
Are You Tired Of Always Trying To Meet Impossible Standards?
Do you struggle with chronic feelings of rejection and inadequacy? Is it difficult for you to feel motivated to engage in the aspects of life that bring joy and fulfillment? Have life’s everyday demands become unbearable?
You may often feel sad or hopeless. And maybe, no matter what you accomplish, you can’t seem to find a sense of satisfaction or purpose. If this is the case, it’s probably difficult for you to look to the future with excitement.
Perhaps you’ve lost your inspiration. The activities and relationships that once brought you joy may have lost their allure. Or maybe a sense of lethargy has made daily tasks at home, school, or work seem insurmountable.
As a result, you might be withdrawing from your partner, friends, or family because you lack the energy to engage with others. Or perhaps your self-esteem has become so low, that you feel you have nothing to offer your relationships.
Living with depression can make you feel as though nothing you do is enough or has the potential to make you happy and fulfilled. And while it can sometimes feel impossible to imagine a future that is not clouded by heavy sadness and other symptoms of depression, there is hope for relief with therapeutic treatment.
Depression Is Often The Result Of A Restrictive Definition Of Success
Though symptoms and types of depression vary—from persistent clinical depression to acute instances of major depressive disorder—the chemical imbalance caused by this condition is considered one of the most prevalent mental health challenges in the world. And, unfortunately, because it is so common, those of us struggling may ignore our symptoms or discount depression as just something we have to live with.
Why wouldn’t we think that way? Because our society puts so many demands on us, giving us so many opportunities to feel inadequate, it’s only natural we would respond with a sense of hopelessness and emotional depletion. The unique experiences, adversities, and traumas that shape us are often overlooked or minimized, adding to the notion that our stories don’t matter and there is no use in telling them.
This is particularly true in marginalized communities whose stories are often oppressed by the capitalistic and patriarchal systems of power in America. We know, for instance, that depression affects women at a higher rate than men.1 And that, according to the National Institutes of Health, Black and Latinx individuals are more likely to be at risk for depression than their white counterparts.2
Moreover, we know from extensive research that mental health conditions like depression and anxiety are much more prevalent in the LGBTQIA+ communities. Queer people are more than twice as likely to struggle with depression and anxiety than straight-identifying individuals—and that statistic doubles for trans individuals when compared to their cis counterparts.3
It’s not that you’re inadequate—it’s that a hypercritical and unforgiving culture is making it impossible for you to feel accepted. But in therapy, you can have your experiences validated as you gain meaningful skills for coping with depression.
In Depression Treatment, Your Story Is The One That Matters
The world around you is constantly making judgments and holding you to certain expectations. But in therapy, you can feel welcomed to come exactly as you are and get a chance to feel valued and empowered by an empathetic and professional clinician.
Depression treatment at West Houston Psychology begins with a 60- to 90-minute session during which we will explore your presenting challenges, symptoms, history, and goals. Our discussion will also help us to get a sense of your distress levels and what has helped with your depression in the past so that we can tailor treatment to meet your unique needs.
As therapy continues, we will work together to understand where certain expectations were created and how distorted thinking patterns may be shaping your experience. Throughout this time, we will likely use a combination of behavioral methods, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), to help you identify certain thinking patterns and regulate your emotional responses.
In addition, we may look at various cultural standards and use relational models to understand how problematic expectations and patterns are contributing to unfulfilling relationships in your life. With this knowledge, you’ll be better equipped to establish firm and meaningful.
boundaries, assert your identity, and advocate for your needs. And with this improvement in self-esteem, you’re likely to see a reduction in symptoms of depression over time.
If you often default to a state of hopelessness or distress, you’re suffering unnecessarily. Even when it is making life feel impossible, depression is something that can be managed with the right tools and treatment.
So why not choose to honor your needs? At West Houston Psychology, our therapists specialize in treating depression with compassion and empathy. You’ll be valued for exactly who you are and given individualized skills for coping with depression so that a life of optimism and confidence can be yours for the taking.
Perhaps you’ve considered counseling for depression, but you’re still unsure…
You Can Learn To Live Joyfully And On Your Terms
If the grind of daily expectations has you feeling down, depression treatment at West Houston Psychology can help you shift your perspective and feel valued. To schedule an appointment with one of our therapists who specialize in depression counseling, please contact us via email, our site, or by calling (832) 906-4434.