Discover the Joys of Life Again Through Therapy for Depression in Boynton Beach and Wellington, FL
Are you experiencing a lack of motivation and energy? Deep down inside, you know you need to accomplish daily tasks and goals, but you can’t find the drive. You may often think, “I know I need to do this, but I don’t feel like it.” As the day progresses, you may feel shame due to not completing all the things you have to do. You find yourself unable to form any positive feelings about yourself or your accomplishments. It seems like everything you attempt results in disappointment, and the world starts to look gray.
If you could just snap your fingers and feel differently about everything, you would. But this isn’t really you. Depression is telling your body and emotions to stop trying to improve your mood. However, you don’t have to continue living this way. With the help of a mental health professional, you can turn your life around and begin experiencing happiness, joy, and excitement once more. Therapy for depression is one of the many services we provide at Reflections Creative Therapies Group for our clients in Boynton Beach and Wellington, Florida. All you have to do is reach out, and we’ll take it from there.
The Many Forms of Depression and How to Recognize When You Need Help
Depression doesn’t just stop at having no motivation and energy. Unfortunately, it is like a chameleon and can appear as many different things. You may start believing that things will never change due to hopelessness. This constant state of sadness can affect you physically as well. Do you often feel fatigued, lethargic, restless, or agitated? You want to be social, but the continuous stress on your body causes you to cancel plans and self-isolate.
Your brain tells you that no one really cares and that you are a burden. These thoughts may cause you to become angry with yourself because you cannot show up for others. You might even feel worthless. Your mind and body may urge you to just “go back to sleep” because everything is “too overwhelming.” But that’s just the depression talking.
The good news is that you can break out of this cycle. When you’re tired of feeling that way and ready to make a positive change in your life, it’s time to seek help. A dedicated therapist for depression, such as those on staff at Reflections Creative Therapies Group, can open a window into your dark corner and let in the light. You are NOT alone.
Depression Is Prevalent, Especially in Times of Crisis
According to a study conducted by the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, “In 2020, depression was common in nearly one in ten Americans, and almost one in five adolescents and young adults.” (1) Additionally, anxiety often coexists with depression and may have a hand in magnifying some of depression’s symptoms.
It’s no surprise that the world saw a rise in depression cases and those seeking therapy for depression in 2020. That was the year that the Coronavirus first made its appearance. Many of us were feeling its effects and were at a loss for how to cope—and to this day, we are still reeling from the stress and isolation it caused.
The Rise of Social Media and Its Effect on Depression
Growing up, many of us had our own idea of what the “American Dream” should be. However, once we reach adulthood, we learn how much work has to be put in to achieve these goals. Some of us may become disillusioned or even angry when certain achievements are not met within a specific timeframe.
Social media plays a significant role in this thought process. Many people try to create “the ideal life” within their social media profiles. This illusion makes them believe their worth is tied to their follower count. Maintaining an image like this can be exhausting. And in the grand scheme of things, it isn’t reality. The social media “false lens” can also make those around you believe everything is fine, and your depression symptoms may go unnoticed. People might think “She’s living the dream. There’s no way she’s depressed.”
Depression therapy can help you see reality for what it is and learn how to deal with life’s hurdles rather than hiding them or pretending that things are okay.
Therapy for Depression Provides a Judgement-Free Safe Space
At Reflections Creative Therapies Group, our depression therapists want to see you as your authentic self and help you express your feelings freely. We want to empower you to break out of isolation by creating a connection between you and your counselor. This connection can serve as the springboard for the healing work of therapy.
It may seem scary to start connecting with others again. Even getting up and dressed to go to your workplace may seem daunting, let alone talking with a therapist for depression. However, we will take everything on together, with baby steps, and soon, we will be able to externalize what is happening so that you can understand depression more clearly. Instead of isolating and getting stuck in your head, we can create a sounding board to challenge negative thinking and help you start speaking out and taking chances. Any past trauma contributing to your depression will also be explored to improve your ability to feel worthy.
Therapeutic Methods Used in Depression Treatment
You would be surprised how much simple activities can benefit your mental health. This is why we try incorporating some of these easy rituals into our depression treatments. We may suggest any of the following as part of your personalized therapy:
- Psychoeducation: Psychoeducation for depression can help you understand depression on a deeper level and assess the reasons you have for maintaining hope. You’ll learn why depression arose in your life, how it still affects you, and what you can do to manage it.
- Mindfulness: Uses breathing techniques, meditation, emotionally-focused tapping, and other exercises to relieve depression. This approach can help you be present in the moment and stop overthinking.
- Meditation: Using guided meditation techniques for depression can help you quiet the negative chatter, be present in the moment, and process the issues driving your symptoms.
- Journaling: Utilizing journaling is an opportunity to explore yourself deeper and express yourself freely. Once completed, your journaling can be put away for later use. Journaling is highly beneficial in depression therapy.
- Medication: With your counselor, you can explore the possibility of seeing a psychiatrist for medication, if the negative effects of your depression warrant it, or are not improving.
In addition to using creative methods to improve mood and focus, we also make use of evidence-based therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and expressive arts like play therapy.
Are You Ready to Experience Joy Again?
You can get back to being your old self; it just takes one day at a time. The fact that you are willing to take tiny steps that lead to doable action shows that you have enough self-love for yourself. If you want to improve your life, we encourage you to begin therapy for depression. To get started, call Reflections Creative Therapies Group for a free 15-minute consultation at (561) 810-6631 or visit our contact page. We see clients in Boynton Beach and Wellington as well as virtually throughout the state of Florida. Depression Therapy is also available for those in Palm Beach County, FL.