Could You Be Depressed And Not Know It?

While more and more of us are talking about mental health conditions and understanding and recognizing their symptoms these days, it’s still possible that we don’t always know when a person might be suffering from depression, and here’s why:

Depression can manifest itself differently:

Two individuals suffering from depression may experience totally different symptoms, and the severity can differ significantly, too. While one person may struggle to function on a day to day basis, with depression having taken over their entire life, the other may have a much milder form of the illness and still be able to lead a ‘normal’ life.

The illness can develop slowly:

For some with depression, their symptoms can develop incredibly slowly, with no noticeable change until weeks or months down the line. They may not notice minor changes to their mental health or the way they’re feeling, and then before they realize it, they’re suddenly not able to recognize themselves anymore and are feeling utterly miserable. At this point, while it is never too late to seek help professional help, some damage has already been done, and the individual may find it harder to manage their symptoms alone (before getting help).

Symptoms appear and develop at different times:

Since symptoms of depression may not all come at once, it’s easy to miss the connection between them, and hence for depression to go undiagnosed.

There may be a clear cause for the feelings of depression:

For many who suffer from depression, their feelings are simply exacerbated by an event in their life that we commonly associate with feelings of sadness, such as a loss of some sort. So, they accept that they should be feeling that way because of what has happened and may never suspect that they are suffering from depression.

There may be no clear cause for the feelings of depression:

On the other hand, if a person’s mood is low and there is no apparent cause, they may simply put this down to a predisposition, or conclude that they’re ‘just that type of person’, and never make the connection between their feelings and a mental health condition.

Symptoms of depression may be misunderstood or misinterpreted:

Depression doesn’t always include feelings of sadness; in fact, many sufferers say that they feel numb or disinterested. So, when an individual doesn’t experience overwhelming feelings of sadness, it might be easy for them to discount depression, along with those around them.

Many of us don’t want to be branded as depressed:

While there is certainly a lot less stigma surrounding mental health illnesses than ever before, many individuals still don’t want to be labelled as depressed, and may find it embarrassing or shameful to admit.

If you’re experiencing emotions that you’re struggling to control, believe that you may have a mental health illness, or are simply feeling as if you just need someone to talk to about the way you’re feeling, then take the first step towards feeling better by scheduling an appointment with a professional counselor.

The post Could You Be Depressed And Not Know It? appeared first on Heart-Centered Counselors.

source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/could-you-be-depressed-and-not-know-it/

The Link Between Tiredness And Depression

Experts state that it’s extremely rare for fatigue and general tiredness not to be one of the symptoms of depression, and most agree that the two go hand in hand; but why?

How tiredness and depression are inextricably linked:

Perhaps the most poignant link is the quality of sleep that the individual regularly gets. Research has shown that for the average adult to function normally, 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night are best, but even if someone with depression is getting this much sleep, they often still wake up feeling tired. This may be due to several factors:

• Depressed people take longer to fall asleep, meaning they achieve less hours overall
• Sleep is not of a good quality and is interrupted by REM
• Those with depression may find themselves repeatedly waking up during the night
• They may wake up earlier but be unable to fall back to sleep, despite their feelings of tiredness

Other issues that can make a depressed person feel so tired are that their bodies are constantly fighting against moods that encourage them to feel unenthusiastic about even the smallest of tasks, such as getting out of bed or eating. If you’re relentlessly trying to bolster your mood and garner some lust for life, the effects can be draining on your brain and overall mental state, tiring you out and stripping you of your energy.

When you’re depressed, your brain may begin to process thoughts in an unhealthy way, and you can soon find yourself stuck in a mental loop of negativity caused by continuous overthinking. This constant process becomes tiring for your brain, and even if your body shouldn’t be feeling tired (such as if you’ve gotten enough sleep, eaten an energy boosting meal etc), your brain may be sending messages that causes it to feel fatigued.

Coping with fatigue and depression:

Some of the best ways of coping with any problems we may be experiencing with our mental and physical health, center around a balanced and nutritious diet, quality sleep, regular exercise and relaxation. It may also benefit you to seek professional help from a healthcare professional, who may deem it necessary to prescribe medication for you or to recommend that you seek guidance from a qualified counselor.

While it may feel at times as if your tiredness is sapping you of the strength to continue your battle against depression, talking about the causes — and finding solutions to help you feel more energized and positive — is key to ending the vicious cycle. Feeling tired is something that others may brush off and they might tell you to simply ‘get more rest’, however, fatigue can be extremely debilitating and when its coupled with depression as it so often is, it needs to be tackled so that you can maintain a certain quality of life. To begin feeling like your old self again, and to have more zeal and energy for life, consider speaking confidentially to a counselor who can guide you through some processes to help heal you.

Learn more at heartcenteredcounselors.com

The post The Link Between Tiredness And Depression appeared first on Heart-Centered Counselors.

source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/the-link-between-tiredness-and-depression/

Moving On From An Abusive Relationship

An abusive relationship is not always one that involves physical violence, in fact, in many cases emotional abuse takes the worst toll.

Relationships can be complex and often revolve around varying emotional needs. Individuals may remain in an abusive relationship for months, sometimes even years and tolerate unimaginable cruelty in the name of love or dependence. Breaking the cycle of abuse can be a very real challenge, and in more serious cases, can even be life threatening.

However, there is always a way out – even if it may not seem like it at the time – and while the path to your emotional freedom and happiness may not always be clear, remember that a professional such as a therapeutic counselor, can help guide you through the process so that not only do you remain safe from harm, but that you are emotionally able to strive for a happier future for yourself.

What you can look forward to after leaving an abusive relationship:

If all goes well (and remember that a counselor will be there for you every step of the way, even if things don’t go as planned), your life should slowly begin to feel like your own again, and you’ll go from focusing all your attentions on that one individual and their well-being, to being free to focus on your own needs and desires.

Many people who have found the strength and courage to leave an abusive relationship, describe it as being as if a weight has been lifted from their shoulders; a great and crushing burden has dissipated and they can finally shake off the feelings of sadness and despair and hold their head high. Many also say that while the struggle to end the relationship will take its toll on you initially (and in fact, most will carry some painful memories for a long time), it will all be worth it in the end.

The importance of family, friends and loved ones:

A break-up can be a troubling and upsetting time no matter what the relationship was like, but if you’ve just come out of an abusive one, then you’ll need your family and friends around you even more.

Some relationships cause us to lose touch with the people who used to mean a lot to us, and can even result in friendships being broken and family members ousted, but if you’re to thrive and be happy after your abusive relationship has ended, you’ll want to connect with true friend you can get.

Reach out to loved ones and make extra effort to connect with them. It may involve some soul searching from both parties, but true friends will support you and will understand what you have been going through. Remember that a qualified counselor can help support you through this process and make it a little less difficult.

If you’re struggling with an abusive relationship or have just found the courage to go it alone, then you may need some extra support on whatever stage of the journey you’re at. Reach out to a counselor or other such therapeutic professional and let them help you to get back on your feet as soon as possible.

Learn more at: https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/couples-marriage-counseling/

The post Moving On From An Abusive Relationship appeared first on Heart-Centered Counselors.

source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/moving-on-from-an-abusive-relationship/

The Stigma’s Gone – Seeking Help From A Therapist Does NOT Mean You’re Crazy

While for some there is still a (very) small degree of stigma surrounding mental health, if you had broke the news to a friend or colleague two decades ago that you were seeing a counselor or therapist, they might well think that if you weren’t already crazy, you were well on your way. They might have had visions of you lying down on a couch and sharing your deepest, darkest thoughts and feelings to a stranger in a white coat, while being prescribed handfuls of anti-psychotic drugs. Things have changed for the better though, and while not everyone is comfortable talking about their mental health, most of us are.

Many Americans seek therapy and for a range of mental health issues:

It has become comforting for many folks to have a therapist on speed dial, and for them, seeking help and talking about their problems has become the norm, and not something that they’re ashamed of. It might not be quite the same for the eveyone, but every year the number of people seeking help for their mental health increases, showing that not only may such issues be on the rise due to the stresses and strains of modern life, but that more people are actively trying to get better.

Even the small handful of people who once viewed the need for mental health as a weakness or something to be afraid of or a sign of being crazy are learning: There are many folks who visit a therapist or counselor to discuss all manner of issues in their lives and who may never be diagnosed with any kind of mental illness. Many find it helpful to simply talk through their problems with someone outside their circle of friends, family or co-workers.

In what ways can a therapist help you?

Qualified and experienced therapists or counselors are trained to look for the story that is running behind, or parallel to, the story that you’re telling them, and to make you aware of it.

Every story will have a recurring theme, but once your therapist has helped you to identify it, you can work on ways of changing the story so that it doesn’t have a negative impact upon your life.

And you don’t need to be mentally unwell to benefit from this, in fact, if you have a healthy state of mind, you’re typically more open and insightful and can benefit from therapy in myriad ways. Your therapist can help you to transform any negative mindsets which will have a positive impact on both your private and working life.

If you have any issues in your life that you would like to share with a mental health professional, it’s important to do so. Unhealthy thoughts or actions can quickly impact your life; but seek help soon enough and you can nip them in the bud before they have a negative consequence on any aspect of your life. And remember, seeking therapy is a sensible and mature response to a problem in your life, and does not mean that you are crazy — rather, it’s a sign of self-care and self-value.

The post The Stigma’s Gone – Seeking Help From A Therapist Does NOT Mean You’re Crazy appeared first on Heart-Centered Counselors.

source https://heartcenteredcounselors.com/the-stigmas-gone-seeking-help-from-a-therapist-does-not-mean-youre-crazy/