• Home
  • About Me
  • Services
    • Therapy for Adults
    • Therapy for Children >
      • Individual Play Therapy
      • Family Play Therapy
    • Continuing Education Trainings >
      • History and Play Therapy Training
    • Parent Recordings & Workshops
    • Video Counseling
  • Location & Hours
  • Fees
  • Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Practices Notice
  • Virtual Book Club for Healthcare & Wellness Practiioners
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Services
    • Therapy for Adults
    • Therapy for Children >
      • Individual Play Therapy
      • Family Play Therapy
    • Continuing Education Trainings >
      • History and Play Therapy Training
    • Parent Recordings & Workshops
    • Video Counseling
  • Location & Hours
  • Fees
  • Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Practices Notice
  • Virtual Book Club for Healthcare & Wellness Practiioners
Christine M. Valentín, LCSW, LLC
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Services
    • Therapy for Adults
    • Therapy for Children >
      • Individual Play Therapy
      • Family Play Therapy
    • Continuing Education Trainings >
      • History and Play Therapy Training
    • Parent Recordings & Workshops
    • Video Counseling
  • Location & Hours
  • Fees
  • Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Practices Notice
  • Virtual Book Club for Healthcare & Wellness Practiioners
Back to Blog

What is Depression?

8/12/2015

 
Picture
Depression is a term many individuals use to describe feelings of sadness, gloom and/or pessimistic thinking. Clinically speaking, depression refers to a type of mood disorder that impedes on a person's ability to function in various aspects of his/her life for a significant amount of time. 
Due to the impact depression can have on someone's well-being, including those around them, it is important to be aware of some of the common symptoms associated with the disorder and what to do about them. Some of the most common symptoms include:
  • Loss of appetite
  • Lack of sleep
  • Loss or lack of interest in normal daily activities
  • Feeling worthless or hopeless
  • Thoughts of hurting oneself or others, also referred to as suicidal/homicidal ideation, respectively 

While the above symptoms vary according to the severity of the depression, it is important to not disregard what you or someone you know is feeling. Depression, if not taken care of early enough, can serve as a blockade to getting help. As a result, many individuals who are depressed often need friends and/or family to intervene and help them get assistance. 

The first step in getting help is to consult with a medical professional to rule out any medical causes for the depression. Upon being evaluated by your physician, he/she may recommend seeking counseling either with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professionals to identify any emotional/psychological causes for the problem. Depending on what is causing the depression, generally a combination of medical and psychological care is helpful. 

Do you have any thoughts or questions you would like to share? Please do so below.  


2 Comments
Read More
Tony Colombrito, MS, NCC, LPC
2/12/2013 05:05:03 am

I really appreciated your wedsite content and intention; although, I wondered why not include LPC's, LMFT's in the above statement... " Upon being evaluated by your physician, he/she may recommend seeking counseling either with a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker to get to the emotional/psychological cause of the problem."

Reply
Christine M. Valentin link
2/12/2013 05:44:22 am

Hi Tony,

Thank you for your comment. I definitely did not mean to exclude anyone in the mental health field who can assist with such counseling. A physician can definitely refer to the professionals you mentioned as well. Thanks for pointing that out.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

This Site is not intended to provide psychotherapy advice. The Site is intended only for use by individuals in search of general information of interest pertaining to anxiety, depression and related topics. Content is not intended to replace or serve as substitute for professional consultation or service. Contained observations and opinions should not be misconstrued as specific counseling advice.
Photos from soekfoto, Thales, Pawel Pacholec, lisabirtch, Mickey JT, Muffet, apparena, aresauburn™, Minette Layne, die.tine, A Gude, stephcarter, Kathy McGraw, srqpix, sun sand & sea, photogirl7.1, W J (Bill) Harrison, srluke, catlovers, bernhard.friess, redagainPatti, soekfoto, tdlucas5000