What is depression?

Depression is a complex disorder that affects each person differently. It's a mood disorder that can cause feelings of sadness, anxiety, emptiness, and guilt. It is often comorbid with other medical disorders such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Depression may be caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine), structural changes in the brain, or other factors such as genetics and one's environment.

Depression is not a weakness or a character flaw. It's an illness that causes feelings of sadness and loss of interest. If you're unable to perform even simple daily tasks, depression could be the cause.

This condition affects how you think, feel and behave. Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems, including:

• Sleep problems
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Low energy level or fatigue

Depression can affect how you think and feel. Your mood may change suddenly, and you might find that you’re feeling sad or empty for no reason. You may also lose interest in things you used to enjoy, or your appetite may change.

Changes in behavior are common with depression as well, including:

• Increased irritability or anger
• Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, like sex or hobbies
• Decreased energy level

Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. These include:

• Suicidal thoughts or actions
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Eating disorders, such as bulimia, anorexia, and binge eating disorder (BED)
• Sleep problems such as insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping)

Depression can also contribute to or be comorbid with other mental health issues, like anxiety or psychosis.

Depression is one of the most common mood disorders in the United States. It affects about 17.3 million people in the United States alone, and is more common than asthma, diabetes, and cancer combined. Depression is more common in women than men, but it can happen to anyone at any age.

What are the symptoms of depression?

Depression manifests differently in different people, but some of the most common symptoms include:

• Changes in appetite or weight
• Sleep disturbances
• Lack of energy or feeling slowed down (lethargy)
• A depressed or “empty” mood that continues for most of the day

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms regularly, it may be a good idea to find a talk therapist or CBT specialist near you.

Harmful Effects of Depression: Can depression affect your health?

Depression can absolutely affect your physical health and well-being. 

Depression affects the way a person thinks, acts, and feels. These negative changes are thought to be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain.

When someone is depressed, they may do things that harm their health. They may also be more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs because they want to cope with their feelings of sadness or pain. Depression increases an individual’s risk of suicide or suicidal thoughts.

Physical Pain and Health Problems

If you are depressed, you may change certain behaviors; many with depression eat and sleep too much or too little. These changes can negatively affect your physical health.

Depression can also manifest as physical pain or fatigue, which contributes to a more sedentary lifestyle in some patients. In chronic and severe cases, this can lead to obesity and heart disease.

Depression can also make chronic illnesses worse by increasing stress levels or slowing down healing time after an injury or illness.

Substance Abuse

Depression is also a risk factor for substance abuse and vice versa. People who are depressed may use drugs or alcohol to cope with their symptoms, while people who have a history of drug or alcohol abuse are at greater risk of developing depression.

Substance abuse can lead to depression because it impacts the brain's neurotransmitters, which regulate moods and emotions. Drug abuse can also lead to physical health problems that make mental health problems like anxiety or chronic pain worse.

Interpersonal Relationship Strain

Depression can also contribute to social problems in patients, including marital problems and friendship strain.

Because depression reduces energy and stifles the healthy brain’s neurotransmitter reward system, it can become difficult for patients with depression to secure and maintain relationships with others.

A lack of socialization has been shown to reduce overall health, and can even make depression worse. This creates a looping effect that can be difficult to break out of, especially without therapy.

What is depression therapy? How To Treat Depression

Depression therapy is a practice where your therapist will listen to you without judgment. They will help you discuss your feelings, and find solutions and coping strategies. Note that therapy is not the same as psychiatry (though they are sometimes paired.)

Your depression therapist will help you to identify the cause of your depression, whether it is past experiences, genetics, or something else.

Once the cause has been found, they will work with you to find ways to make your life better so that the depression doesn't affect you as much.

Depression therapy comes in many forms, but the most common is cognitive behavioral therapy.

CBT can help you see things differently and use new thinking to make changes in your life. It focuses on the present and the future rather than the past, which makes it easier to think about how things could be better for you now.

However, CBT is not the only form of depression therapy available to New Yorkers. There are several kinds of therapy, and the one that is right for you may be different from what is right for someone else.

Traditional Talk Therapy

Traditional talk therapy is a general form of psychotherapy that involves a structured conversation between the therapist and the client. CBT, as well as many other forms of therapy, are defined under the umbrella term "talk therapy."

The goal is to help you organize your thoughts and feelings so that you can better understand them.

Traditional talk therapy can be done in individual or group sessions. Traditional talk therapy can also be done over the phone or via video chat.

The length and number of sessions in traditional talk therapy depend on how severe your symptoms are and how long it takes for them to improve. Some people go into weekly sessions for several years, while others may only need one session per year during the holidays.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

This form of treatment focuses on improving relationships with others who are important in your life. It may involve discussing past experiences or conflicts between you and others who have been important in your life, such as family members or close friends.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

This type of therapy looks at unconscious feelings or beliefs that could be causing emotional problems or mental illnesses like depression.

Psychodynamic therapists often focus on helping their clients explore their emotions by talking about past experiences as well as current situations that might be causing stress or anxiety.

Humanistic Therapy

Humanistic therapy revolves around the idea of becoming a truer version of yourself. Your therapist will work with you in three categories, all designed to improve the way you think about yourself and your behavior.

• Existential Therapy - This form of therapy focuses on defining and emphasizing the patient’s free will and ability to make choices that will impact their life. It also focuses on finding meaning in day-to-day activity.
• Gestalt Therapy - Gestalt therapy involves searching for unresolved conflict in the patient’s life, and then taking steps to resolve it in the hope that it will either improve the patient’s frame of mind, or at least show them that change is possible.
• Person-Centered Therapy - This form of therapy posits that severe criticism or disapproval of a patient’s life and choice by the people around them may contribute to depression and anxiety. In person-centered therapy, the therapist becomes a source of acceptance and approval for the patient.

Every patient is different, and one form of therapy may or may not work for a patient depending on the nature of their depression, the way they think about their depression, and external environmental factors.

That’s why it’s so important to find the right therapist for you.

NYC Depression Therapy Specialists: Williamsburg Therapy Group

Williamsburg Therapy Group is the top choice for thousands of New Yorkers who feel they may benefit from therapy for depression.

Every member of our practice is a doctoral-level psychologist, giving you peace of mind that you are receiving the highest quality of care available.

Qualified Therapists Near You

With over 35 qualified psychologists in the NYC area, Williamsburg Therapy Group is uniquely qualified to improve the lives of New Yorkers who have been affected by depression.

Our personnel are trained to handle an array of psychological therapies, including CBT, couples therapy, addiction treatment, and more.

Book An Appointment Today

For high-quality mental healthcare at a price patients can afford, book an appointment with a Willamsburg therapist today.

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