Phil
“It took someone close to me to see the signs of depression. My idea of depression was of an older person who had lost everything, not someone who’s just graduated from university with their whole life ahead of them.”

I think it’s easy for someone who has no experience with it personally to assume that people who are depressed or experiencing thoughts of suicide are weak – but that’s wrong.”

Craig
“Friends and family members are at times more ashamed of my depression than I am!”

Shauna
“Having depression does not make me an unfit mom!”

Jackie
“My recovery was directly tied to the support of a mental health therapist, my family and friends”

Tony.
“My parents told me prayer would fix my depression.”

Bill
“The thought of sharing the depressive side of me with someone felt scary and totally a non-starter. When I finally did, and I heard the words “me too” I felt a huge weight fall from my shoulders.”

Marie
“I have been suffering with depression for just over three years. Depression has replaced my confidence with self-doubt, and my self-respect with self-loathing. I feel raped of my inner self.”

Diana
“Some living with a mental illness are high-functioning. They live out their lives day-to-day like normal. They go to work, socialise, and function like anyone else. They have a health issue and they live with it heroically.”

My anxiety took front and centre stage in my life. No matter how hard I tried, my life was organized around trying to avoid anxiety attacks.

Career aspirations took a backseat to just having a job where I didn’t feel stressed. I didn’t want to be lonely, but the stress of anxiety chased me into seclusion. My friendships slowly slipped away.

It affects everything from vacations to making love.

This is not the future I want!

Frequently Asked Questions:

It’s normal to feel down once in a while, but if you’re sad most of the time and it affects your daily life, you may have clinical depression. It’s a condition you can treat with medicine, talking to a therapist, and/or changes to your lifestyle.

  • Depression is NOT just being SAD.
  • Depression and anxiety are cousins.
  • Continued anxiety or sadness can slip into severe depression.
  • Depression can be invisible to others.
  • Depression is experienced by high performers.
  • Depression is not a sign of weakness.
  • Depression is made worse by secrecy.
  • Depression does not always have a logical reason.
  • Many things can cause depression.

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Is Depression a Choice?

I was told that my reason for being depressed was “pathetic” and that I “had plenty of things going” for myself, but depression doesn’t work like that. It doesn’t look at what you have going on in life and avoid you because it doesn’t want to ruin that. Depression is not a choice! It is an illness!

Is Depression a Sign of Mental Weakness?

No! It is not a sign of weakness. They are not weak, they are alone. Alone in their negative, dark thoughts and tired of battling. It is exhausting! When someone experiences depression, the ability to concentrate and think is drastically reduced. We become sluggish, unmotivated, feeling tired and often ashamed.

What is the Most Effective Treatment for Depression?

The most effective treatment for depression is through the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, (talk therapy), changes to life style and medication. Often, successful treatment uses the combination of them all. If your depression is resistive to psychotherapy and medication, then Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) are supplementary methods for treating depression.

What are the Major Causes of Depression?

There are many things that cause depression. It may be situational, chemical, hormonal, seasonal changes, life transitions, stress and/or trauma.

Is Depression Biological or Psychological

There are many different kinds of depression. Events in your life cause some and chemical changes in your brain cause others. Sometimes we inherit a predisposition through our family.

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

Some symptoms you might experience:

  • Loss of interest or pleasure in your activities
  • Feelings of sadness
  • Weight loss or gain
  • Irritability and poor anger management
  • Trouble getting to sleep or feeling sleepy during the day
  • Feeling restless and agitated, or else very sluggish and slowed-down physically or mentally
  • Being tired and without energy
  • Feeling worthless or guilty
  • Trouble concentrating or making decisions
  • Thoughts of suicide

What Is Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness Cognitive Therapy?

The cornerstone assumption of cognitive therapy is that thoughts precede moods. How we perceive ourselves and the world around us often leads to negative emotions such as depression. The goal of cognitive therapy is to help you recognize and re-assess your patterns of negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts that more closely reflect reality.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy builds upon the principles of cognitive therapy by using mindfulness meditation techniques to help people pay attention to their thoughts and feelings without placing any judgments upon them in order bring clarity of thought. When we can let go of negative thoughts there is less fuel for depression.

Should I See a Psychiatrist or a Psychologist?

Working with a mental health therapist is always the first step. Your Bayridge therapist will sometimes refer you to your doctor if they believe medication may be required. Most GPs will treat depression with an anti-depressant unless it requires a more specialized diagnosis or drug combination. In this case, they may refer you to a psychiatrist. At Bayridge, we provide online cognitive behaviour counselling as well as online psychiatric consults.

My Spouse is Depressed. How Can I Help?

The importance of support for a depressed partner cannot be over emphasized. Begin by understanding it is an illness, not a choice. Let them know you understand they are struggling. Encourage professional support, from medical doctors to mental health counsellors. Of course, your patience and encouragement go a long way. Lastly, do not be naïve to think that this will not affect you. You, too, need support. Often mood disorder programs include partners. This is a huge help. Don’t forget to take care of yourself, because this is not usually a sprint but a marathon.

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