Depression and Loss Treatment
Depression is the most common psychiatric problem in America and perhaps the world. Certainly it is the number one reason people seek out counseling and therapy and billions of dollars are spent on anti-depressant medications.
While everyone gets sad from time to time, clinical depression is a profound sense of helplessness and hopelessness which can sometimes lead to suicide.
Typical symptoms of depression include feeling sad for more than 2 weeks, difficulties sleeping and eating, feeling tired, problems with concentration, attention and memory, withdrawing from others, not enjoying the things you used to.
When you are in a depressed mood, you tend to do less and dwell on things negatively which makes you feel worse. You tend to exaggerate the negative things in your life and not see or minimize the positive things.
Most depression is situational. You feel depressed about a negative life event such as getting fired from your job or going through a divorce, losing a lot of money in the stock market, or getting in a car accident. Counseling can help individuals cope with these negative life events but most people’s mood improves with time as the life circumstance passes by.
Some depression is more chronic and seems to be related to a person’s underlying belief system. They are prone towards being negative, pessimistic, self-critical or perfectionist.
Clients are helped to examine their “stinking thinking” and to replace negative ones with healthier and more rational ones. By challenging negative thoughts and beliefs depressive symptoms weaken and wither and allow for the creation of more positive and productive thoughts and ideas.
Clients are given a variety of simple and easy exercises and strategies to being using in their lives from day one. By changing thoughts AND behaviors together, noticeable changes at the feelings level begin to emerge.
The number of sessions required varies from person to person. However, within a few sessions, clients can begin to feel better, notice significant improvement in their symptoms and in the way they think, feel and behave.
In most cases of mild to moderate depression, these positive changes take place without the need of medication or clients at some point no longer need to be on medication. With severe chronic depression, medication and cognitive therapy seem to be the most effective combination.
Dr. Robert Heller is a recognized expert in cognitive therapy and can teach you principles and practices of cognitive therapy to help you rid yourself of depression and live a happier and more satisfying life.
If you are ready to build mental and emotional muscle to decrease depression and increase a sense of well being, contact Dr. Heller now by calling (561) 451-2731 for an initial consultation.
