Depression is leaving you feel empty and disconnected from yourself and others.
There is an emptiness, or a heaviness that is almost painful.
Some days, it’s hard to get out of bed or do much of anything.
You’ve wondered, “Is this depression?”
At first, you thought it was a matter of pushing through the darkness. You tried to just look on the bright side. But, that didn’t work. In fact, you feel worse now. Basically, all you want is to feel alive again.
If this sounds familiar, you may have depression.
Depression is real, and it hurts.
There are a lot of misconceptions about depression. The lack of understanding about this disease can make it difficult for people to ask for help.
However, it’s important to know that depression is a real illness. Depression is not your fault and not something that is just ” in your head.”
Unlike its sister, anxiety, depression has no energy. It can leave you exhausted, ineffective, and trapped in despair.
As a therapist, I’ve been supporting clients with depression for years. In counseling sessions for depression, I use effective, evidence-based strategies that give you relief from these debilitating symptoms of depression. Together, we will keep depression from robbing your life of joy and excitement. You can feel like yourself again.
Symptoms of depression
Depression feels a little bit different to everyone. However, there are some common symptoms people experience when they are depressed.
Loss of joy or interest in life
Pleasurable activities, especially things you used to enjoy, may not sound fun anymore. You may feel sad and feel like nothing can make you happy or feel better.
Change in appetite
Maybe you’ve noticed that you forgot meals. Or sat down to eat and nothing sounded good. Your depression may keep you from feeling hungry. Or, perhaps you’ve been eating a lot more than usual. And, let’s be honest, the food really hasn’t been all that healthy. Depression can also cause you to crave food and overeat. It feels like overeating will bring you comfort. While the food is sometimes comforting, that candy bar just doesn’t taste as good as it used to or bring the same joy.
Feelings of Worthlessness or Guilt
You may feel like a failure. Your thoughts may dwell on negative events and experiences. It’s hard to see your positive qualities with all of the negative thoughts your mind keeps bringing up. You may distract yourself for a short period of time, but the critical and negative thoughts just keep coming back.
Trouble concentrating and making decisions
This is a symptom of depression you may not even think of. However, it is related to depression and can be very frustrating. Depression makes things feel overwhelming and scary. Therefore, making it hard to weed through the negative thoughts and make a decision. For example, even watching TV or reading may feel too hard because you cannot focus or follow what is going on.
Loss of energy and extreme fatigue
Depression is exhausting. In fact, you may feel so tired that sometimes it’s hard to get out of bed, perform normal self-care and hygiene routine. Furthermore, this exhaustion can cause problems at work or in your relationships.
Sleep issues
You may sleep a lot and still wake up tired. Or, you may have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep all night. Maybe, you wake up and can’t fall back to sleep.
Relief from depression is possible
Depression can be painful. My clients have described it as “pain leaking out from everywhere.” However is IS treatable. You can get to feeling better and being yourself again.
In the past, despair and depression were seen as just a part of life. Therefore, many people ignored their depression symptoms. However, we now know that depression is very treatable! With therapy, you can overcome your depression and lead a more authentic life. Research has shown that most people who come to counseling for depression get better.
Even though you are struggling, change is possible.
In counseling, we explore the negative thoughts maintaining your depression.
Therapy for depression can help you explore your thoughts. Through depression treatment & counseling sessions, you will uncover hidden assumptions, hurts, desires, and frustrations. All these things keep you from feeling like yourself and have contributed to your symptoms of depression. You’ll create a new relationship with these thoughts, shift your perspective and begin to see the world a little differently.
For example, in the midst of depression you may hear thoughts telling you:
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“I hate who I am and how I feel.”
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“No one understands me and my pain.”
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“I want to be alone, but I feel guilty for wanting that.”
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“I am worthless, and nothing helps.”
If these or other thoughts have become part of your daily mantra, you may be operating from underlying false beliefs and assumptions. You begin to respond to life in a negative and fearful way. Unfortunately, all these hurts, thoughts, and survival strategies block out the energy of your real self.
In therapy, I will journey with you to free your authentic and fully-alive self. In this way, your depression can empower to be your true self.
My whole-person approach to depression treatment
As a therapist, I take a functional, holistic, and integrative approach to the treatment of depression. This means I see the mind, body, and spirit as being connected to wellness. And by default, the symptoms of depression. Depression impacts every area of your life. So, I feel depression treatment needs to touch on each of these areas.
Depression can become a serious, debilitating condition. It can negatively affect how you feel, think, and act. The emotional and physical symptoms can make it hard to function at work and at home. Fortunately, it is also highly treatable.
I provide in-person counseling & depression treatment at my office near the Heights and Montrose neighborhoods in Houston.
I offer online therapy for depression
Sometimes, depression can make it hard to even get out of bed, much less out of the house, through busy Houston traffic to a counseling appointment. In addition to in-person individual therapy, I offer online therapy for depression through secure videoconferencing for individuals living anywhere in the state of Texas. At first, some people may find it too challenging to leave the house for therapy. So, online therapy can begin to help them work on their depression from the comfort of their home.
Begin depression treatment in Houston, Texas
If you are ready to find relief from the symptoms of depression and feel whole again, I can help. I am here for you. Counseling can help you rediscover a sense of hope, connection, meaning, and purpose in your life.
- Contact me to schedule a free consultation phone call,
- Meet with me at my Houston, TX counseling office or we can meet over videoconferencing.
- Find emotional peace and holistic healing.
Other Counseling Services offered by Natalie Mica LPC
My Houston, Texas counseling clinic provides a variety of holistic psychological and wellness services to help you find your inner strength and resiliency. I see patients of all ages and provide individual therapy for adults, child therapy, therapy for teens, and family counseling. To help you meet your mental health goals, I specialize in treating anxiety and stress, eating disorders and body image issues, grief and loss, challenging life transitions, trauma, physical illness counseling, integrative health coaching, therapy for self-esteem and personal empowerment, shame, and women’s issues. Contact my office to learn more about the ways I can help you find your inner purpose and emotional peace.