Are you feeling sad, low, and down on yourself?
Have you lost interest in people and things that used to bring you pleasure?
You may be depressed.
Everyone feels sad or low in the face of loss, grief, or disappointment—and this kind of temporary change in mood is normal. Depression is different from normal sadness or disappointment: Depression involves feeling persistently sad, hopeless, and badly about yourself. Depression "sets in," leaving you feeling down or tired, lacking in energy, and feeling inadequate, sad and hopeless about the future for weeks or months at a time for most of the day, every day.
What are the symptoms of depression?
When you're depressed, you experience one or both of the following symptoms:
• Feeling sad, blue, empty, or down
• Loss of interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities
In addition, you experience some of the following symptoms nearly every day:
• Increased OR decreased appetite (which may lead to weight loss or gain)
• Difficulty sleeping OR sleeping too much
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Recurring thoughts of death or ideas or plans for suicide
If you think you or someone you care about may be experiencing depression, it is important to seek help from a professional who is qualified to make a diagnosis—either a psychologist or a physician.
How can depression be treated? Do you have to take antidepressants to get better?
Psychotherapy and antidepressants are equally effective for treating depression.
Psychotherapy is a safe and effective alternative to medication for depression. If you do not want to take antidepressants, if you have not found medication effective, or if you have experienced unpleasant side effects while taking antidepressants you may wish to consider psychotherapy.
Psychotherapy offers a couple of advantages for the treatment of depression:
(1) Unlike antidepressants, psychotherapy has no side effects.
(2) Psychotherapy helps you understand your depression and make positive changes in your life that will prevent you from becoming depressed again in the future.
Left untreated, depression tends to be a recurring illness. Most people who experience an episode of depression go on to experience another episode. Without treatment, episodes of depression last for an average of 9 months.
If you'd like to make an appointment or to talk to me about depression treatment, please call me at 604.838.2290.
What about postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression is depression that occurs after the birth of a baby. The symptoms are the same as depression at any other time—although there may be even more fatigue involved given the demands of a newborn baby.
• Is postpartum depression hormonal?
No. Researchers have found no evidence of hormonal differences between women who become depressed postpartum and women who do not become depressed postpartum. The exception to this is that, for a small percentage of women, depressive symptoms after the birth of a baby are due to thyroid problems.
What can you read to learn more about depression in women?
Women are about twice as likely as men to suffer an episode of depression: 1 in 4 women will experience an episode of depression at some point in her life. To learn more about depression in women, see
Secret Sadness: The Hidden Relationship Patterns that Make Women Depressed by Valerie Whiffen
My office is located on the North Shore, providing convenient access from West Vancouver, North Vancouver, and beyond.
