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FAQs:

What is a Depression Therapist?

Depression therapists are trained professionals who provide a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to express their thoughts, emotions, and concerns. Establishing a strong therapeutic alliance built on trust and empathy is the foundation for effective treatment. By actively listening and validating the individual’s experiences, a depression therapist creates an environment where healing and growth can occur.

What Does a Depression Therapist Do?

One of the primary responsibilities of a depression therapist is conducting a thorough assessment to understand the unique challenges and needs of each individual. Through careful evaluation of symptoms, personal history, and current circumstances, the therapist gains valuable insights into the factors contributing to depression. This assessment forms the basis for developing an individualized treatment plan tailored to the person’s specific needs.

What is Depression?

Depression (also known as major depression, major depressive disorder, or clinical depression) is a common but serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.

Who Does Depression Affect?

Depression can affect anyone — including children and adults. Women and people assigned female at birth are more likely to have depression than men and people assigned male at birth.

Having certain risk factors makes it more likely that you may develop depression. For example, the following conditions are associated with higher rates of depression:

- Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

- Stroke.

- Multiple sclerosis.

- Seizure disorders.

- Cancer.

- Macular degeneration.

- Chronic pain.

Is Depression a Mental Illness?

Depression is a disorder of the brain. It is a serious mental illness that is more than just a feeling of being "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. For more than 20 million people in the United States who have depression, the feelings persist and can interfere with everyday life.

How Common is Depression?

Depression is common. Researchers estimate that nearly 7% of adults in the United States have depression every year. More than 16% of U.S. adults — around 1 in 6 people — will experience depression at some point in their lifetime. However, researchers believe that these estimates are lower than reality, as many people don’t seek medical help for symptoms of depression and don’t receive a diagnosis. Approximately 4.4% of children in the United States have depression.

Is Depression Genetic?

Depression can be hereditary. Studies that looked at families and twins found that genetic factors can be a major contributor. Other studies have also determined that the sex of the parent who handed down the gene may affect how severe depression is.

However, depression doesn't seem to have an exact inheritance pattern. It's indicated that people who have a parent or sibling with depression are two to three times more likely to develop it. Yet many people with depression have no family history of the condition, and others with an affected family member don't develop depression.

Also, much is still unknown about the genetic basis of the condition. Studies suggest that variations in many genes, rather than one single gene, combine to increase the risk of developing depression.

What are Depressants?

Depressant substances reduce arousal and stimulation. They affect the central nervous system, slowing down the messages between the brain and body. They can affect concentration and coordination and slow down a person’s ability to respond to unexpected situations. In small doses, they can cause a person to feel more relaxed and less inhibited. In larger doses they can cause drowsiness, vomiting, unconsciousness and death.

Is Depression Curable or Just Treatable?

There is no cure for depression, but many different treatments are available to manage the symptoms. The symptoms of depression vary among individuals. A treatment plan that includes medical interventions, support, and lifestyle changes can enable a person to live a normal and full life with the condition. However, finding the right treatment plan is a process that can take time. Alternative remedies cannot treat depression on their own, but some may complement traditional medical treatment and therapy.

How Much Does Therapy Cost?

Therapy can cost $100 or more per hour, but some therapists offer therapy on a sliding scale. A person’s health insurance may provide some level of coverage for therapy. A person without health insurance may wish to look into federally funded healthcare options. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America provides a list of important questions for a person to ask their therapist and insurance provider about costs.

Types of Depression

The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) classifies depressive disorders as the following:

1. Clinical depression (major depressive disorder): A diagnosis of major depressive disorder means you’ve felt sad, low or worthless most days for at least two weeks while also having other symptoms such as sleep problems, loss of interest in activities or change in appetite. This is the most severe form of depression and one of the most common forms.

2. Persistent depressive disorder (PDD): Persistent depressive disorder is mild or moderate depression that lasts for at least two years. The symptoms are less severe than major depressive disorder. Healthcare providers used to call PDD dysthymia.

3. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD): DMDD causes chronic, intense irritability and frequent anger outbursts in children. Symptoms usually begin by the age of 10.

4. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): With PMDD, you have premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms along with mood symptoms, such as extreme irritability, anxiety or depression. These symptoms improve within a few days after your period starts, but they can be severe enough to interfere with your life.

5. Depressive disorder due to another medical condition: Many medical conditions can create changes in your body that cause depression. Examples include hypothyroidism, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and cancer. If you’re able to treat the underlying condition, the depression usually improves as well.

There are also specific forms of major depressive disorder, including:

1. Seasonal affective disorder (seasonal depression): This is a form of major depressive disorder that typically arises during the fall and winter and goes away during the spring and summer.

2. Prenatal depression and postpartum depression: Prenatal depression is depression that happens during pregnancy. Postpartum depression is depression that develops within four weeks of delivering a baby. The DSM refers to these as “major depressive disorder (MDD) with peripartum onset.”

3. Atypical depression: Symptoms of this condition, also known as major depressive disorder with atypical features, vary slightly from “typical” depression. The main difference is a temporary mood improvement in response to positive events (mood reactivity). Other key symptoms include increased appetite and rejection sensitivity.

People with bipolar disorder also experience episodes of depression in addition to manic or hypomanic episodes.

Symptoms of Depression

Although depression may occur only once during your life, people typically have multiple episodes. During these episodes, symptoms occur most of the day, nearly every day and may include:

1. Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness

2. Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters

3. Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports

4. Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much

5. Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort

6. Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain

7. Anxiety, agitation or restlessness

8. Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements

9. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame

10. Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things

11. Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide

12. Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

For many people with depression, symptoms usually are severe enough to cause noticeable problems in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others. Some people may feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why.

Causes of Depression

It's not known exactly what causes depression. As with many mental disorders, a variety of factors may be involved, such as:

1. Biological differences. People with depression appear to have physical changes in their brains. The significance of these changes is still uncertain, but may eventually help pinpoint causes.

2. Brain chemistry. Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain chemicals that likely play a role in depression. Recent research indicates that changes in the function and effect of these neurotransmitters and how they interact with neurocircuits involved in maintaining mood stability may play a significant role in depression and its treatment.

3. Hormones. Changes in the body's balance of hormones may be involved in causing or triggering depression. Hormone changes can result with pregnancy and during the weeks or months after delivery (postpartum) and from thyroid problems, menopause or a number of other conditions.

4. Inherited traits. Depression is more common in people whose blood relatives also have this condition. Researchers are trying to find genes that may be involved in causing depression.

Types of Talk Therapy That Work Best for Depression

The Society of Clinical Psychology rates several types of psychotherapy as highly effective treatments for depression:

1. Behavioral Activation Therapy The aim of this type of therapy is to reverse the downward spiral of depression by encouraging you to seek out experiences and activities that give you joy.

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) CBT focuses on changing specific negative thought patterns so that you are able to better respond to challenging and stressful situations.

3. Interpersonal Therapy This very structured, time-limited form of therapy focuses on identifying and improving problematic personal relationships and circumstances directly related to your current depressive mood.

4. Problem-Solving Therapy This therapy is a form of CBT that teaches take-charge skills that help you solve real-life problems and stressors, big and small, that contribute to depression.

5. Self-Management or Self-Control Therapy This type of behavioral therapy trains you to lessen your negative reactions to events and reduce your self-punishing behaviors and thoughts.

Benefits of Seeing a Therapist

Yes, talk therapy can help you in the short term. It can also have a lasting effect on your life, whether or not you continue to see a therapist. If you commit to therapy for a few months and open up to your therapist, you may find these sessions can benefit you for the rest of your life.

Coping Mechanisms

Psychotherapy often helps you develop your ability to solve problems. It offers practical and supportive ways to manage stress and other difficult parts of your everyday life. These coping skills can be helpful throughout your life, even when you are no longer attending therapy.

Support Systems

Talk therapy can help someone with thoughts of self-harm to create a safety plan. While instances of self-harm or suicidal ideation may be treated as potential emergencies, therapy could help you develop a plan of action that involves support from family and friends in a crisis. These strategies can stay with you even if you stop seeing a therapist.

Reducing Symptoms

Research gives evidence that talk therapy improves mental health over the long term. A 2016 study of people with mood or anxiety conditions found that at a 10-year follow-up, attending therapy longer may result in better outcomes. In the study, people who went to long-term psychotherapy had greater symptom improvement and improved workability than those who attended short-term therapy. However, the study found that both short-term and long-term therapy offered lasting results.

New Insights

Talk therapy may help you address how specific thought patterns may cause you harm, such as when one holds a low opinion of themselves. Therapy can help someone identify such thoughts as inaccurate and develop behaviors based on a more positive, realistic life outlook.

Improvements in Your Health

According to the American Psychological Association, 75% of people who participate in talk therapy get some benefit. When therapy ends, individuals who received therapy found that their mental health symptoms improved by 80% more than those who did not receive therapy.

Risk Factors of Depression

Depression often begins in the teens, 20s or 30s, but it can happen at any age. More women than men are diagnosed with depression, but this may be due in part because women are more likely to seek treatment.

Factors that seem to increase the risk of developing or triggering depression include:

1. Certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem and being too dependent, self-critical or pessimistic

2. Traumatic or stressful events, such as physical or sexual abuse, the death or loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or financial problems

3. Blood relatives with a history of depression, bipolar disorder, alcoholism or suicide

4. Being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or having variations in the development of genital organs that aren't clearly male or female (intersex) in an unsupportive situation

5. History of other mental health disorders, such as anxiety disorder, eating disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder

6. Abuse of alcohol or recreational drugs

7. Serious or chronic illness, including cancer, stroke, chronic pain or heart disease

8. Certain medications, such as some high blood pressure medications or sleeping pills (talk to your doctor before stopping any medication)

Complications of Depression

Depression is a serious disorder that can take a terrible toll on you and your family. Depression often gets worse if it isn't treated, resulting in emotional, behavioral and health problems that affect every area of your life.

Examples of complications associated with depression include:

1. Excess weight or obesity, which can lead to heart disease and diabetes

2. Pain or physical illness

3. Alcohol or drug misuse

4. Anxiety, panic disorder or social phobia

5. Family conflicts, relationship difficulties, and work or school problems

6. Social isolation

7. Suicidal feelings, suicide attempts or suicide

8. Self-mutilation, such as cutting

9. Premature death from medical conditions

How Depression is Treated

Treatment for depression may include one or a combination of the following:

Medicine. Antidepressants work by affecting the brain chemicals. Know that it takes 4 to 6 weeks for these medicines to have a full effect. Keep taking the medicine, even if it doesn’t seem to be working at first. Never stop taking your medicine without first talking to your healthcare provider. Some people have to switch medicines or add medicines to get results. Work closely with your healthcare provider to find treatment that works for you.

Therapy. This is most often cognitive behavioral and/or interpersonal therapy. It focuses on changing the distorted views you have of yourself and your situation. It also works to improve relationships, and identify and manage stressors in your life.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This treatment may be used to treat severe, life-threatening depression that has not responded to medicines. A mild electrical current is passed through the brain. This triggers a brief seizure. For unknown reasons, the seizures help restore the normal balance of chemicals in the brain and ease symptoms.

With treatment, you should feel better within a few weeks. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or even years. Continued treatment may help to prevent depression from appearing again.

How to Deal with Depression

Try these coping strategies if you're feeling depressed.

1. Stay in touch

Don't withdraw from life. Socialising can improve your mood. Keeping in touch with friends and family means you have someone to talk to when you feel low.  

2. Be more active

Take up some form of exercise. There's evidence that exercise can help lift your mood. If you haven't exercised for a while, start gently by walking for 20 minutes every day. 

3. Face your fears

Don't avoid the things you find difficult. When people feel low or anxious, they sometimes avoid talking to other people. Some people can lose their confidence in going out, driving or travelling. If this starts to happen, facing up to these situations will help them become easier.

4. Don't drink too much alcohol

For some people, alcohol can become a problem. You may drink more than usual as a way of coping with or hiding your emotions, or just to fill time. But alcohol won't help you solve your problems and could also make you feel more depressed.

5. Try to eat a healthy diet

Some people don't feel like eating when they're depressed and are at risk of becoming underweight. Others find comfort in food and can put on excess weight. Antidepressants can also affect your appetite. If you're concerned about weight loss, weight gain or how antidepressants are affecting your appetite, talk to your GP.

6. Have a routine

When people feel down, they can get into poor sleep patterns, staying up late and sleeping during the day. Try to get up at your normal time and stick to your routine as much as possible. Not having a routine can affect your eating. Try to carry on cooking and eating regular meals.

7. Seeking help for depression

Get help if you're still feeling down or depressed after a couple of weeks. Treatments for depression include talking therapies and antidepressants. You can refer yourself for talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or counselling on the NHS. You don't need a referral from your GP.

How to Help Someone with Depression

People with depression may not know or admit that they're depressed. They may not be aware of the symptoms of depression, so they may think their feelings are normal.

People often feel ashamed about their depression, mistakenly believing they should be able to overcome it with willpower alone. But depression seldom gets better without treatment and may get worse. With the right treatment, it can get better.

Here's what you can do to help:

1. Talk to the person about what you've seen and why you're worried about it.

2. Explain that depression is a health condition — not a personal flaw or weakness — and it usually gets better with treatment.

3. Suggest seeking help from a professional. A health care provider is a good place to start. You also could see a mental health provider, such as a licensed counselor or psychologist.

4. Offer to help prepare a list of questions to discuss in the first appointment with a health care provider or mental health provider.

5. Express your willingness to help by setting up appointments, going along to them and attending family therapy sessions.

If a person's depression is severe or potentially life-threatening, contact a health care provider, a mental health provider or emergency medical services.

How to Find a Depression Therapist

If you need help finding a therapist, try these suggestions:

1. Ask family and friends. Chances are some of your family or friends have seen a therapist. Ask those you trust for a recommendation. If a therapist you contact can’t see you, ask if they can recommend another therapist.

2. Ask your doctor. Your doctor likely has referrals to mental health specialists in your area.

3. Ask your clergy person. Most clergy members will be able to provide you with referrals for mental health providers.

4. Check with your employee assistance program (EAP). If you work for a large company, your EAP may be able to provide a referral.

5. Check with your insurance company. If you have insurance, your insurance company likely has a list of therapists in their network.

Sources:

NIH

Mayo Clinic

Cleveland Clinic

Everyday Health

Johns Hopkins

SAMHSA

Health

ADF

NHS

Psych Central

Medical News Today

Silver Lake Psychology

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.