Depression is a condition that causes a person to experience deep, unshakable sadness and diminished interest in nearly all activities. People also use the term depression to describe the temporary sadness, loneliness, or blues that everyone feels from time to time often related to a specific event or life transition. In contrast to normal sadness, severe depression, also called major depression, can dramatically impair a person’s ability to function in social situations and at work. People with major depression often have feelings of despair, hopelessness, and worthlessness, as well as thoughts of suicide.

Depression can be devastating to family relationships, friendships, and the ability to work or go to school. Symptoms of depression vary a great deal from person to person. Some people have only a few symptoms, while others have many.

Symptoms can change over time and may include:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
• Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless
• Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
• Loss of interest in sex
• Feeling tired
• Trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Trouble sleeping, waking up too early, or oversleeping
• Eating more or less than usual
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Thoughts of death or suicide (with or without suicide attempts)
• Restlessness, irritability, or anxiety
• Physical symptoms that defy standard diagnosis and do not respond well to medical treatments

Nearly everyone experiences depressed mood at some point in life. Additionally, Major Depression is one of the most common medical diagnoses in the United States. It is not a sign of weakness nor is it something that you can simply “will away” by trying harder. It can affect people of any age, background, and socioeconomic status. The good news is that it is highly curable and help is just a phone call away. Whether you are dealing with a history of sadness and dissatisfaction, a sudden and unexplainable depressed mood, or a grief reaction to a loss or a major life transition, one of our trained therapists can help you put together the treatment plan that is right for you and help get you started on the road to recovery.