Clinical depression is a medical condition that goes beyond what you might describe as “feeling blue” or “feeling down.” We all face difficult times when circumstances impact our mood, but clinical depression is different.
Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States. An estimated 21 million people (8.3% of all U.S. Adults) experienced at least one depressive episode in 2021.
Clinical depression is usually defined as :
“A period of at least two weeks when a person experiences a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities, and has a majority of specified symptoms, such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, or self-worth.”
Those experiencing a bout of depression also have intense and persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness. These feelings aren’t temporary —depression isn’t something you can just snap out of. Clinical depression requires professional intervention.
At Evanston Counseling, we understand where you are and what you are going through. Our compassionate therapists are trained to identify and provide therapy for your clinical depression.
All of us may experience some symptoms of depression at some point in our lives. The key factor in determining whether they indicate clinical depression is the number of symptoms, the intensity of your feelings, and how long they have persisted.
While this symptom list can help you identify signs that point toward clinical depression—self-diagnosis may lead you down the wrong path. It’s crucial to seek and receive the proper treatment for depression.
Get the help you need from the professionals at Evanston Counseling. Our therapists can identify clinical depression and provide genuine relief from your symptoms.
Depression can go unrecognized when you dismiss what you’re experiencing as “expected” stress and anxiety levels.
Below are a few common situations where your emotional response may seem appropriate, and you may miss the symptoms of clinical depression.
From high school exams, demanding college coursework, and struggling to fit in, the pressure can be intense. It can be easy to discount the persistent symptoms of depression as merely stress and anxiety that will pass.
Major life changes (like heading to college, changing jobs, or getting married) can cause emotional and physical symptoms associated with stress and anxiety. You might not recognize these symptoms as part of a depressive episode and may think your mood will improve when you get a handle on everything.
Parenting can bring about stressors like insomnia, exhaustion, guilt, or low self-esteem. These can make it easy to ignore underlying feelings of depression that are more persistent.
Conflicts in friendships, romantic relationships, and marriages naturally bring about intense emotions. These are trying situations, and persistent sadness or despair can often be overlooked or mistaken for an appropriate emotional response.
Job loss, workplace pressures, or financial worries are real-world challenges many face. But beneath the anxiety of these external pressures, feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness may go unnoticed or be chalked up to just having a “bad day.”
At Evanston Counseling, we approach therapy through the lens of your experiences and challenges. Our highly trained Evanston therapists are skilled at distinguishing between typical stress, anxiety, and more enduring depressive feelings. By understanding your unique situation, we can support you on your journey toward a more fulfilling and joyful life.
Perhaps the road back to mental and emotional well-being seems too long and too hard. If you suffer from clinical depression, even starting that journey can feel pointless. But you can start to see improvement in your symptoms from the first few therapy sessions.
Here are a few ways therapy for depression can start helping you immediately.
Depression is complex, and its roots can vary from person to person. At Evanston Counseling, our approach revolves around understanding the unique origins of your feelings and crafting a therapy plan tailored to your individual needs.
Our therapists are deeply committed to your well-being and trained in evidence-based therapy for depression, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, and Hypnotherapy. We may recommend a psychiatrist who works closely with us at Evanston Counseling. A psychiatrist or your primary care physician can prescribe medications, ensuring a holistic approach where every avenue of care is considered.
The connection you share with your therapist is foundational to the therapeutic process. Through this nurturing relationship, we can guide you toward a renewed sense of inner peace, contentment, and purpose in life.
Contact us for a free 15-minute consultation to learn more about how our Evanston Therapists can help.
Are you ready to feel happier and more content in your life? At Evanston Counseling, our therapists are trained to help you find relief from the depression, to help you live life with happiness and connection. Follow these steps to start healing.
At our counseling center in Evanston, IL, we are committed to providing comprehensive and personalized care to help you find relief from depression. In addition to our therapy for depression program, we offer other specialized therapy services for anxiety, chronic pain and GI distress. Our dedicated team of licensed therapists specializes in therapy for teens, young adults, college students, moms, and couples. We are here to assist you in finding the best treatment options tailored to your unique needs. To learn more about Evanston Counseling’s mental health services and therapy, check out our Blogs and FAQS.