Has Depression Gotten the Best of You?
As a counselor and psychologist I provide depression counseling for women in my New York City, Houston or Woodlands office.
Perhaps you’ve lost your zest for living.
You may feel like you are just going through the motions.
You feel sad, or numb.
You are just not happy.
Perhaps your depression is recent. Or, maybe you have been feeling sad and depressed for a long, long time.
You may have seen depression counselors and therapists in the past…but you still can’t seem to shake off the heavy feeling.
We All Get Depressed at Times…
It is common to feel sad or depressed when you, have lost a job, or have had a relationship end. It is also normal to grieve the death of a loved one.
Recent life transitions such as a new baby can also bring about depressive episodes.
Women sometimes become depressed when they are struggling with infertility, after the birth of a child (postpartum depression) when they have a miscarriage, and when they are having difficulty getting pregnant, However, with all the above situations the sadness and grief often heal in time.
But, if you don’t start feeling better after a while, this can be a sign that you could benefit from seeing a therapist for depression counseling.
This doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you—it simply means that for whatever reason, your depression has gotten stuck and you may benefit from the help of a counselor in overcoming it.
Signs that You May Need Therapy or Counseling for Depression
If you feel overwhelmed, exhausted and unhappy much of the time– and lack the energy to get up in the morning to get to work or take your kids to school, you may be experiencing depression.
If you feel really depressed, you may even withdraw from your friends and have thoughts of death.
Depression can also affect your relationship with your partner and your children. Your work life and your self-image may suffer too.
Depression in women is common. Women are twice as likely to experience depression as men.
1 in 8 women may develop a major depression during their life time.
Symptoms of Depression in Women:
- guilt and feelings of worthlessness
- sleeping excessively
- eating more and gaining weight; or eating less and losing weight
- lack of energy and fatigue; loss of will to do anything
- difficulty concentrating
The childbearing years are when women are of highest risk for depression.
Specific Triggers of Depression in Women where a Therapist Can Help:
- Hormonal fluctuation during menstrual cycles (PMS)
- Infertility
- Pregnancy
- Difficult or unwanted pregnancy
- Miscarriage / Stillbirth
- Postpartum Adjustment / Postpartum Depression
- Overwhelming responsibilities (e.g. managing profession and motherhood)
- Parenting problems
- History of sexual or physical abuse
- Relationship problems / lack of intimacy
- Menopause
Women’s depression often is related to the fact that many women handle overwhelming responsibilities that men often don’t. Caring for children, doing housework and holding a paying job can be draining.
You may be even “sandwiched” between caring for your children and aging parents. Women also tend to be more affected by relationship problems and experience them as more stressful.
If your relationship with your husband is not as good as you would like it to be and you are under a lot of stress, you may over time, become depressed.
Depression can even lead into a vicious cycle.
You may feel more stressed out when you are depressed because your relationships and work are undermined. You may feel more depressed when your lack of energy prevents you from doing the things that you want and need to do.
You may feel the dread of the stress of your life will never end.
You may not know how to turn your depression around. This is when therapy may be helpful.
The Good News is that Depression Counseling Works!
You don’t have to go through this difficult time alone.
Depression therapy can help you identify issues that may be causing you to feel unhappy, and help you see how you can change or improve.
A psychologist with experience helping women overcome depression can provide you with the support that you need.
Therapy can help you find ways to reduce the demands that are put on you, and show you how to shield yourself from the stress that you can’t reduce.
Counseling for depression can also help you make permanent and lasting changes in your brain so you can ward off depression in the future.
Benefits of Counseling for Depression in Women
- regain hope and create a positive outlook on life
- identify and deal with stressors that may contribute to feeling blue
- feel better and enjoy your life again
- develop effective ways of coping
- gain control over your sad and heavy emotions
- enjoy being with your baby or your young child again
- improve the way you interact with your partner
- improve patterns of interacting with other people that may be contributing to depression
- regain a sense of control and find pleasure in your life
- feel good about yourself again
- reduce the chances of having another depressive episode
Yes, you can overcome feeling miserable.
Even if you feel down in the dumps now, with appropriate counseling / therapy, you can feel better again.
As a psychologist who has provided counseling to women experiencing depression over the past 15 years, I can help.
With my help, you can recover from depression and function at your full potential. I can help you see what opportunities you have in your life now so that you can have a more enjoyable and fulfilling life.
Yes, with counseling, you can resolve some of the stress of being a mother, a wife and a working woman all in one! As your therapist, I will show you how to take care of yourself while taking care of others.
I can help you find your way to feeling good about yourself and your life again.
If you are suffering from depression, the sooner you seek counseling, the sooner you will feel better. You can prevent getting stuck in these feelings if you get help now.
If you are ready to feel better call me for a free 10-minute phone consultation at 281-267-1742 or to book your in-person appointment in my Houston or Woodlands office. Or, you can book an online session if you live in New York City.
Click on the BOOK NOW button below.
