Overcoming the Blues: Counseling for Depression Management

“You don’t have to be positive all the time. It’s perfectly okay to feel sad, angry, annoyed, frustrated, scared and anxious. Having feelings doesn’t make you a negative person.”   Gretchen Rubin

Alright, folks, ready to shed some light on what it might feel like to have major depressive disorder. Now, depression ain’t no walk in the park, it’s like being stuck in a never-ending funk, a funk that even James Brown couldn’t dance his way out of!  

Picture this: you wake up in the morning, and instead of feeling like a million bucks, you feel like a busted piggy bank. Everything around you seems dull, like someone turned down the color saturation on your entire life.  It’s like you’re trapped in a pitch-black room with no exit sign in sight. Your mind becomes a tornado of negative thoughts, swirling around like a blender on high speed. Every little setback feels like a punch to the gut, and you start questioning your worth, wondering if you’re just a malfunctioning toaster in the game of life. 

Remember those times when you used to feel excited about stuff? Yeah, well, depression takes that excitement and tosses it into a blender too. 

Learn More about Mood Disorders.

“A million tiny strings hold the world together. Don’t ever think yours doesn’t matter.”   Virginia Woolf

Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression or major depression, is a mental health condition that causes persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. It is a mood disorder that affects the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves and can interfere with their ability to function in daily life.

• Persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness 
• Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable 
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt 
• Changes in appetite and weight 
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much 
• Fatigue or loss of energy 
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions 
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm 

Listen up, folks. MDD ain’t no joke, and there are all sorts of things that can contribute to it – genetics, environment, bad experiences, and what’s going on inside your own head. That’s why it’s so important to speak up about what you’re going through, and not be afraid to share your struggles with others. 

“Sometimes you have to take a few steps back to appreciate how far you’ve come.”  Unknown Author

Persistent depressive disorder (PDD), also known as dysthymia, is a chronic mood disorder characterized by persistent and pervasive feelings of sadness or low mood, which can last for years. PDD symptoms are usually less severe than major depressive disorder, but they are more persistent and impacts the day to day activities. difference is how long episodes

Feeling tired all the time can really drain your enthusiasm for socializing, making it feel like a chore. Pulling back from social interactions can leave you feeling lonely. Negative thoughts can cloud your mind, making it tough to see the positives in yourself. When you’re always feeling down, it can really take a toll on your self-esteem, making it tough to believe you deserve love or friendship. Struggling to express your feelings can create a barrier in relationships and muddy communication, often leading to misunderstandings or arguments. All this just makes you feel worse.

“Sometimes the question isn’t ‘Why is this happening to me?’ It’s What am I going to do next?”  Unknown Author

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression linked to seasonal changes, primarily occurring during fall and winter due to reduced sunlight, and occasionally in spring and summer for some individuals. While the exact cause isn’t fully understood, it’s believed to involve disruptions in the body’s circadian rhythm and decreased sunlight exposure, impacting serotonin production, a neurotransmitter affecting mood.

SAD symptoms include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness, loss of interest in activities, low energy, sleep difficulties, changes in appetite or weight, and trouble concentrating, often accompanied by social withdrawal or irritability.

Now, let’s discuss treatment options. Light therapy is a common choice for SAD, involving exposure to bright lights to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. However, not all light therapy is equal, so research before investing.

“You are allowed to feel messy and broken. You are allowed to hurt. You are allowed to heal.”   Yung Pueblo

Bipolar and Cyclothymic Disorders involve recurring mood changes, swinging between very high (mania) and very low (depressive) episodes. Cyclothymia follows a pattern of high-energy states followed by low-energy states.

During depressive episodes, individuals experience symptoms akin to major depression, including sadness, hopelessness, changes in appetite and sleep, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty concentrating. Conversely, manic episodes bring a surge in energy, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, impulsive behavior, and inflated self-esteem. While mania may seem pleasurable, it can lead to risky behavior or legal trouble, as individuals become legally responsible for their actions during these episodes.

Bipolar and Cyclothymia requires lifelong treatment.

“It’s okay to not be okay. And it’s okay to ask for help.” –Unknown Author

Antenatal depression, also known as prenatal depression, occurs during pregnancy. It is characterized by persistent sadness, anxiety, fatigue, changes in sleep patterns, irritability, and difficulty in bonding with the baby in utero. Hormonal changes, stress, fear about the upcoming birth, and lifestyle adjustments can contribute to this condition. Untreated prenatal depression can affect both the mother and the developing baby, leading to complications such as preterm birth or low birth weight.

Postnatal depression (PND), also known as postpartum depression, is a form of depression that occurs after childbirth. Giving birth and holding your beautiful baby is a moment in life there are no words. Physically the experience is overwhelming for a woman’s body. Adding the sudden changes in hormones affects biochemicals , the neurotransmitters.

Prenatal and postpartum depression aren’t just limited to biological mothers. Men, adoptive parents, and those in same-sex couples can also experience these challenges. The pressure to parent without complaint, especially after a long adoption or surrogacy journey, can make it difficult to seek support. If you’re feeling isolated or struggling, know that there are resources available to help.