Depression is a common emotion that most of us experience from time to time throughout our lives. We can feel depressed for a day or two based on our circumstances, something we ate/drank, our hormones, or the lack of connections with family, friends or co-workers. But it becomes a concern when it lasts longer than a couple days and becomes debilitating. Sometimes depression cycles in and out over weeks, months or throughout the year. Depression is different than sadness. Sadness is something we feel when we lose something: through divorce or death, the loss of a job, physical abilities through aging or illness or a car crash, a child going off to college. With sadness comes crying and a feeling of being “blue” or heaviness. Depression is different, in that depression causes us to attack ourselves in a hurtful and hateful manner. It feels futile in ever being able to feel any different. “I have always felt this way about me or my life and I always will”. Depression can manifest itself in a number of ways. Here is a list of ways depression can show itself. You might identify with several of these, if you are depressed:.

• A feeling of hopelessness
• Thoughts of suicide or not wanting to “be here” anymore
• Having feelings of self hate, critical thoughts about yourself
• Withdrawing from people, particularly friends or family
• Tearful, crying
• Anger
• Irritation
• Troubles with sleeping too much or inability to get to sleep or stay asleep
• Eating too much, lack of appetite, or self starving
• Feeling “stuck” or lacking motivation
• Inability to get daily living routines done due to lack of motivation
• Chronic lateness
• Addictions (alcohol, drugs, food, porn, shopping, working)

Depression can be painful and debilitating. Causes of depression are numerous. It can be from stuffing emotions and feeling like there isn’t anyone “safe” or trustworthy to talk to about your “stuff”. You may feel embarrassed, shameful or like no one would understand what you are feeling. By pushing down your emotions, they don’t go away, they are still there, just not being addressed and continue to be unresolved.

Depression can occur from a cycle of negative self talk that gets stored in the emotional part of our brains. This is the limbic area of the brain called the amygdala. These bits of self criticism, self attacking words and feelings, feelings of being unworthy or unlovable gets stored there and it becomes recorded on a cellular level.

Some people experience depression because they inherited it and they have more proclivities to experience it in their lives. This may be in conjunction with a chemical imbalance. Chemical imbalances can be helped through medication, herbs, acupuncture, massage therapy and exercise.

Some women experience postpartum depression. This is a feeling of depression soon after giving birth. It is accompanied by feelings of despair, feeling stuck in a situation you can’t get out of, anger towards yourself or the baby, feeling overwhelmed and inadequate as a parent, or wanting to harm yourself or your baby. This is a chemical or hormonal imbalance and should be addressed with your doctor immediately.

When you get so busy taking care of other people’s wants and needs, whether they be children, spouses, parents, friends or bosses, there isn’t much time to take care of yourself. This is another cause for depression. You become depleted emotionally and mentally.

Addictions are part of the loop of depression. Addictions can cause changes in your brain chemistry as a stimulant or depressant. They also mask your ability to really discover and work through what is really going on.
If you are feeling depressed give me a call at 303-514-4732. I can help you work through these painful issues.

I invite you to call me at 303-514-4732 for a free consultation.