Therapy For Depression

Depression can have a significant impact on relationships, both romantic and platonic. Here are a few ways in which depression can affect relationships:

1. Communication: Depression can make it difficult for individuals to communicate their thoughts and feelings effectively, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts in relationships. Depressed individuals may withdraw from social situations, isolate themselves, or have difficulty expressing themselves, making it challenging to connect with others.
2. Emotional intimacy: Depression can also impact emotional intimacy in relationships. Depressed individuals may struggle to feel connected to their partner or may struggle to experience positive emotions in general. This can make it difficult for them to form and maintain deep emotional connections with others.
3. Sexual intimacy: Depression can also impact sexual intimacy in relationships. Individuals with depression may have a decreased sex drive or may struggle to engage in sexual activity. This can put a strain on romantic relationships, leading to frustration and feelings of rejection.
4. Social activities: Depression can also impact social activities and engagement in relationships. Depressed individuals may struggle to engage in social activities or may avoid them altogether, which can create a sense of isolation and disconnection from friends and loved ones.

It’s important to note that depression affects everyone differently, and the impact on relationships can vary depending on the individual and the context of the relationship. Seeking treatment for depression can help alleviate some of these challenges and improve the overall quality of life and relationships.

Research has shown that depression can impact various aspects of memory, including the ability to recall past events, learn new information, and concentrate on tasks. Specifically, depression can lead to difficulty with “episodic memory,” which involves remembering specific events and experiences.

One theory is that depression affects the hippocampus, a brain region crucial to memory and learning. Studies have shown that individuals with depression may have smaller hippocampal volume and reduced activity in this area, which can contribute to memory problems.

Furthermore, the symptoms of depression, such as apathy, lack of motivation, and fatigue, can interfere with a person’s ability to engage in activities that promote good memory function, such as exercise, social interaction, and getting adequate sleep.

However, memory problems are not a universal symptom of depression, and not everyone with depression will experience them.

Anxiety and depression both negatively impact a person’s quality of life. While depression causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and reduced energy, anxiety creates feelings of nervousness, worry, or dread. Although the two conditions are different, you can have both at the same time. In fact, research shows that people with depression are also at a higher risk for developing anxiety disorders, and vice versa. Depression and anxiety share some symptoms, such as feelings of agitation, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and sleep problems. Both conditions can also cause physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, and digestive issues.

Therapy addresses more than just the symptoms of depression. Therapy is a self-reflective process that helps people with depression identify, understand, and overcome their depression. By increasing your self-awareness and uncovering the underlying causes of negative patterns of thinking and behaving, therapy helps you develop healthier coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills and work through past issues your depression may stem from.

If you have out-of-network benefits, your insurance may be able to reimburse you for approximately 50%-80% of each session after the out-of-network deductible is met.

Out-of-network psychotherapy coverage varies by carrier and policy. It can be confusing, but we’re here to help! If you aren’t sure whether or not you have out-of-network benefits, we can check for you. Just email your insurance card and date of birth to info@imagineemotionalwellness.com 

Meeting consistently and stably on a weekly basis will help build safety and trust, which is essential for the work to progress on a deeper level. Biweekly sessions impact the effectiveness of therapy. 

Often, meeting less frequently results in a ‘catch up’ type of session and does not allow for the time, space, and emotional capacity needed to address what goes on beneath the surface.

Depending on the level of our work, there are also times when meeting two or more times a week is appropriate, and that will always come from us talking and making that decision together.

Therapy can last any time between a year to many more, as long as you are still progressing from our work. The length of therapy depends on what you want and need, and what you want/need can be fluid and dynamic. 

Healing and personal growth is not strict or predictable. You can start off by wanting to address something very specific (e.g. “I want to feel less anxious”), but through our work together could realize a deeper meaning to these anxious symptoms (e.g. “I feel anxious because I am terrified of intimacy” to “I’ve had very familiar experiences of being emotionally suffocated when I was close to people”). Realizing these deeper long-standing issues may then shape the focus and length of treatment. 

Regardless of why you are seeking therapy and how long you hope to be in treatment, it is important to remember that your thoughts and input are invaluable to me, and the pace and length of treatment will always be a collaborative discussion.

Anyone who wants a space to explore and discover more about themselves can benefit from therapy. If you’re unsure, try asking yourself these questions:

• Am I content with the way I live my life?
• Is the way I live myself and relate to others congruent with what I authentically value , feel, and want?
• Are there areas of my life or self-development that I feel stuck in?
• Have I been trying the same things over and over again to feel better, expecting different results, but still feeling stagnant?

You may not need to know the full answer to these questions to try a few sessions. Sometimes, mulling this over aloud with a therapist can help you sort out your thoughts and answers. That’s also part of the therapy process!

Here are 3 simple steps.