Depression is Not Just What You See on Television

Are you feeling depressed? We’ve all seen those advertisements about depression and how it feels, but can a television advertisement really understand what we are thinking and feeling? Everyone’s depression symptoms are different, and therefore there is no general cure-all. What you see on television may cause you to react because the ads point out the many potential depression symptoms that could be affecting you or your loved ones. Depression is more than a passing feeling of sadness, but goes on to turn everyday tasks into large obstacles. Activities such as eating and sleeping can be greatly affected by depression, and those feeling depressed can often feel that these symptoms are impossible to overcome.

How Do You Diagnose and Treat Depression?

There is no foolproof way to diagnose depression-it is not as simple as a blood test or an X-ray, like many other conditions. However, depression can affect your daily activities and functionality just as much as any other medical condition, and deserves to be treated as such. Because of the complex nature of the brain, therapy is often the best route for depression patients, as it can help them to identify triggers to their depression and skills to help them cope. Although depression may seem difficult to get through, it is important to provide support for those experiencing these life-altering symptoms. Through counselling, depression is a treatable problem, and can be overcome.

It is important to remember that even with the help of counselling it takes time to find the right treatment for you. Depression patients should not feel discouraged if they don’t get immediate results from therapy, because it is a learning and growth process. First, the person receiving depression counseling must learn about their depression, including how it affects them. Therapy takes a time commitment, as recovery from depression does not and will not occur overnight. When therapy seems tough, it is important to stick with it and not quit, even when it seems like an uphill battle. Support from friends and family, along with the guidance from a therapist, will aid in the recovery process and help you to regain the life you had before depression.