It’s normal to experience the blues once in a while. But sadness is different from depression. If your emotions start getting in the way of your everyday activities, you may already be suffering from depression. Also referred to as a major depressive disorder, about 15.7 million adults in the U.S. alone has suffered at least one major depressive episode, the American Psychological Association reports.
Symptoms of depression
Before you seek out treatment options like psychotherapy for depression in Los Angeles CA, it’s important to confirm the condition. The following lists out symptoms you may experience if you have clinical depression.
- Do you suffer from prolonged sadness? Does it last for days, weeks or months?
- Do you have feelings of guilt or worthlessness? How frequent are these feelings and thoughts?
- Are you often angry or irritable?
- Have you started withdrawing from friends and family?
- Are you contemplating thoughts of death or suicide?
Treatment for depression
If you do have depression, the first thing you must understand is that this isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s also not something you can snap out of without help. You need professional treatment. Psychotherapy for depression in Los Angeles CA is one of the many treatment options you can go for.
Benefits of psychotherapy
There are plenty of reasons for you to go to therapy. It can help you gain a better understanding of your health, cope with the stress you feel, and make sense of your traumatic experiences that may have resulted in your depression. By talking to a professional about your problems, you can get the help you need to learn skills on how to cope and better handle the situation. This will also help you process your emotions, understand why things bother you, and develop a plan to cope with crises. To know more, seek out professional help.