When you may need therapy for depression: 

Your life looks great from the outside, but you feel empty inside.

You ask yourself: Is this it with life? 

You feel discontent, sometimes verging on despair. Maybe you feel downright desperate for change. You lost your spark, and you know that’s just not you.  You don’t feel whole anymore. One of the most difficult parts is that no one in your orbit really knows that you’re bottoming out, or if they do, they’re not really able to help. You feel alone, drained, and depleted.

You find yourself feeling disillusioned by what you thought your life would be like by now. You thought you’d be more successful or that you’d be able to enjoy the success you’ve worked so hard to achieve. But you feel empty. Carved out. 

There are things you feel you cannot speak of in polite company, so you’re alone with your thoughts- sometimes drowning in them. And it’s so. damn. isolating. 

When others ask how you’re doing, you smile politely and say, “well.” But it feels incongruent. Such innocuous questions leave you feeling even worse because now you “have to” lie about how you’re actually feeling. You feel more and more detached as the days go on- like you’re sinking.

But there is hope, as depression is highly treatable.

Depression Facts and Statistics

 

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), major depressive disorder is considered one of most commonly occurring debilitating disorders affecting individuals worldwide.

• The WHO has estimated that over 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression, which is over 4% of the global population.

• It’s been estimated that in America alone, approximately 26% of adults suffer from a clinical depression disorder.

• Depression is known to be among the leading causes of disability, job and productivity loss, substance abuse, and suicide.

 

What is clinical depression?

 

Clinical depression is a serious mood disorder that may have a profound impact on a person’s emotional and physical well-being. A depressive disorder can affect how a person thinks, feels, and experiences their life. It also affects individuals of all ages, including children, adolescents and adults.

 

Clinical depression is different than normal grief and sadness. It’s quite common to experience grief and sadness after a breakup, job loss, or loss of a loved one. However, these types of events do not usually cause clinical depression.

 

Clinical depression is a substantial down or depressed mood, loss of interest, or loss of pleasure that affects an individual’s daily functioning for a sustained period of time. These feelings cause significant impairment and persist on most days, throughout most of the day, for at least two weeks. Not all depression looks the same. There are different symptoms and types as outlined below.

 

Types of Depression

 

Individuals may experience depression differently. There are various symptoms, severity, and types of depression. Depression may co-occur with other symptoms or disorders such as anxiety and may be precipitated by different experiences.

 

• Major depressive disorder (MDD): Depression can range from bouts of sadness to more severe depression or clinical depression. You may have major depressive disorder if you have experienced a major depressive episode for at least two weeks and have met diagnostic criteria after a professional assessment from a mental health professional. A therapist specializing in depression can assess the quantity and severity of depression symptoms. A diagnosis can help by providing valuable information and by helping your therapist provide a tailored treatment plan.

 

• Persistent depressive disorder (PDD): You may have heard persistent depressive disorder referred to in the past as dysthymia. This type of depression can be mild or moderate, and it doesn’t seem to go away. A person may be experiencing persistent depression if their symptoms have lasted for two years or more.

 

• Premenstrual mood dysregulation disorder (PMDD): PMDD may be present if you experience severe tension, depression, and/or irritability before menstruation. Other signs include sudden mood swings, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, fatigue, breast tenderness, bloating, and joint/muscle pain. These symptoms may cause significant distress or disrupt daily functioning. It’s estimated that between 1%-2% of those who menstruate experience PMDD.

 

• Postpartum Depression: Sometimes, mood disorders such as Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar I or II disorder may have a postpartum onset. A postpartum onset occurs when the symptoms of a diagnosis begin within four weeks after childbirth. Anyone can experience postpartum depression. If you begin to experience depression after the birth of a child, it is important to seek an assessment from a mental health professional who can help guide you through an understandably difficult period.

 

Crisis Help Resources

 

Crisis Hotlines –  Immediate help may be available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.

 

• Texas Health & Human Services Crisis Services: Website
• Dallas/Fort Worth area Suicide Crisis Line (214) 828-1000
• Suicide & Crisis Center of North Texas: Website
• (866) 488-7386 Trevor Hotline for LGBTQ+ youth or text “START” to 678678
• Veteran’s Crisis Line 1 (800) 273-8255 (Press 1)  or send a text to 838255
• National Suicide Crisis Hotline: 1 (800) 273-8255 or suicidepreventionlifeline.org

While depression can leave you feeling hopeless, treatment can help. In fact, it’s estimated that treatment helps to improve symptoms in approximately 80%-90% of those with depression. Early assessment and intervention can be lifesaving. 

CBT and EMDR Therapy for Depression

 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has long been considered the gold standard psychological treatment for depression. But it is not effective for all individuals. There is evidence, however, that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can provide relief for depression. EMDR targets different mechanisms that may contribute to depression. 

 

According to EMDR International Association, 

 

• Meta analyses have confirmed the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, (EMDR) as treatment for depression “with results maintained across a range of follow-up periods.” 

 

• In fact, when EMDR was directly compared to CBT in analyses of studies with moderate effect size, EMDR produced more favorable outcomes.

 

• EMDR can help to process adverse experiences that precipitate and exacerbate depression and many other mental health disorders.

 

• Depression often deals with the way individuals see themselves and the world around them. Ongoing depression can be fueled by low self-esteem. EMDR can help individuals process memories that are associated with negative beliefs about themselves that contribute to depression.  

 

• Past experiences impact current emotional well-being. EMDR helps to process past experiences in an adaptive way for improvement of current emotional well-being. 

 

• A recent survey has shown that 98% of therapists surveyed reported using EDMR for a range of issues outside of a PTSD diagnosis. 

 

• As a client, you and your EMDR therapist should collaborate together on identifying pathogenic (painful) memories to process in your work together. 

 

Client and therapist collaboration and a good therapeutic relationship can go a long way in effective therapy for depression. 

You don’t have to suffer alone.