Depression Therapy in Pearland, TX

• Depressed or sad mood, most of the day, nearly every day
• Lack of interest in hobbies and activities
• Appetite changes that lead to gaining or losing weight
• Sleeping too much, or not able to sleep much at all
• Lack of energy, fatigue
• Restlessness or irritability
• Feeling worthless, helpless and/or hopeless
• Trouble concentrating, focusing and decision-making
• Suicidal thoughts, fantasizing about death

Therapists are mandated reporters, this means they are required to report safety concerns, such as suicidal and homicidal thoughts. Many people believe this means that if they share that they are having thoughts about death, they will be committed to an inpatient hospital.

Before your therapist calls 911, they would get more information from you: details about your plan, potential other ways to cope and viable options to keep you safe. Should there still be concerns about you, your therapist will develop a plan with you. This might involve contacting your emergency contact, or another safe adult, or arranging for you to stay somewhere safe.

Hospitalization, voluntary or involuntary, is a last resort. Your therapist will work with you to explore every other option first.

Wishing that your pain would end, there was a way out, or hoping for some solution is not unusual or concerning in itself. We all have periods where we feel overwhelmed and lose sight of our abilities to cope.

When these thoughts start to linger for more than a few hours, or for days in a row, is when it becomes problematic. Your brain is having trouble identifying and implementing potential solutions. When you notice this starting, it’s a good time to seek outside support, let a friend or loved one know that you are overloaded and need support.

If the thoughts continue, they are likely to become more frequent and more intense. It can lead to more direct thoughts about death and dying, even making plans to take your own life. This is the point when you need professional intervention, if you haven’t received it yet. Developing plans, even without intent, is cause for serious concern about safety.

A plan can lead to a suicide attempt. There is a lot of support available, even anonymously, should you find yourself wanting to complete your plan.

If you are concerned, for yourself or someone else, call or visit the 988 website. The suicide and crisis lifeline is available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish to offer support.

If there are immediate safety concerns, call 911.

For some people, depression is connected to a medical condition and is a lifelong issue. Treating the medical needs can provide some relief.

Research is finding that genetics and brain chemistry are components to some people’s depression. In these cases, medication management will be an effective tool.

Those that experience bouts of depression in response to life stressors would benefit from taking some preventative measures:

• Physical exercise – even a short walk can boost mood
• Balanced diet – limiting processed food and maximizing natural fruits and vegetables
• 7-9 hours of sleep a night
• Regular social interactions
• Stress management, effective ways to cope
• Self-care, finding activities that are just for relaxation and rejuvenation
• Professional help, don’t wait until it gets hard to find support

If you chose to not treat your depression, it tends to get worse and harder to come out of. What were once symptoms, become a way of life: isolation, poor eating habits, inactivity and lack of productivity. These are best treated when caught early.

Our mental health also has implications to the physical body. Let untreated, it can worsen other illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease. It can also increase risk for alcohol and other substance use disorders.

Of particular concern is the increased risk of suicide. Depression leaves a feeling that life will never get better and that there’s nothing that can be done to improve it. When this helplessness sets in, so can suicidal thoughts. If left unchallenged, these thoughts can become stronger and lead to suicidal plans and attempts.

Full depression is formally labeled as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). It becomes a disorder when the symptoms have a significant impact on your well being. This includes being unable to get out of bed to go to work or tend to your family, staying home alone when you are typically very social, or unable to make decisions that were once easy. These symptoms last for at least 2 weeks and persist all day, every day.

MDD is not:

• Emotions that flare after an argument or a break-up
• Having a bad day or two, in an otherwise OK week
• Extreme mood swings
• Lack of energy due to a medical condition
• Weight change that is intentional or medically related

It is always useful to be proactive. If you have had periods of depression previously, or have a family history of it, sooner than later is better.

If you’re reading this, then you are probably considering whether your problem is that bad, or if you’ll be able to get over it on your own. Depression can resolve itself, however it does so faster and the results will last longer with the help of a professional.

It is problematic and time to find help when you stop doing things or spending time with people you enjoy. Interference in your ability to complete schoolwork or maintain a job is also an indicator that it’s bigger than you can handle alone.

During your intake session, your therapist will ask questions about your mood, habits and behaviors. Your responses, along with how it affects your day to day, are used to determine if you are experiencing depression or not.

Therapists often use assessments to help screen for different diagnosis. They are not diagnostic in themselves, but give them an idea about the intensity of your problems. They also help evaluate progress over time, you will be asked to complete an assessment multiple times through the course of your relationship.

Women tend to suffer from depression at a higher rate than males. The divide starts after puberty, implying some connection to hormone changes. Other research shows that men are able to move past disappointments or rejections faster than women.

Postpartum depression can occur after a pregnancy. Many experience a short-term shift (7-10 days) in their moods as their hormones adjust back to baseline. For some, it can last for months and be much more severe.

Menopause is another time of significant hormone changes. This adjustment can take years to complete. During this time, changes in mood, along with other physical symptoms, are quite common. Low estrogen levels have a significant impact on our moods, continuing well after menopause is over.

What to do:

• Listen, without judgement or advice
• Be empathetic, even if you don’t completely understand
• Remind them of their strengths and positive aspects of life
• Invite them to be social, don’t take no for an answer
• Be persistent, check in on them often
• Recognize your own boundaries, don’t make it your responsiblity

What not to do:

• Minimize – It’s not that bad, you’ll get over it soon
• Direct – tell them what they ‘should’ do. This is NEVER helpful.
• Judge – You have such a great life, you have nothing to be depressed about
• Abandon – don’t let them sort it out by themselves, it’s hard to dig yourself out of it alone
• Advise treatment options, unless you are a provider yourself, then work within your ethics