JENNA GHAZANFARI, LMFT
 

 

 

 

Everyone experiences an occasional down day, but depression can last for weeks or months.  Feelings of sadness and a lack of energy can lead to hopelessness and difficulty enjoying the things that you used to love.  Depression is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with depression cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. The good news is that depression is highly treatable.

 

Common symptoms of depression include:

 

• Frequent crying and overwhelming feelings of sadness.

• Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness.

• Changes in sleep such as excessive sleeping or the inability to sleep.

• Difficulty enjoying previously-enjoyed activities.

• Unexplained physical ailments such as headaches or muscle pain.

• Difficulty concentrating.

• Changes in weight or eating habits.

• Thoughts of suicide

 

Many studies show that therapy and mindfulness training are highly effective in treating depression. By becoming aware of the thinking patterns that can lead to depression, you can change the way you think, have more compassion for yourself, and learn to accept yourself as you are. Exercise and social interaction are also important ways of combatting depression.