Depression is a serious health condition. In America alone, “an estimated 21 million adults had at least one major depressive episode” according to a National Institute of Mental Health 2021 report. The figure represents about 8.3 percent of American adults. Depression is a real concern, however, it is treatable. Counseling can help. 

Learning about depression is fundamental if you wish to overcome it. Leaving your symptoms untreated rarely leads to improvement. Depression can go into remission, though intervention is necessary. 

How Depression Affects People

Different people may manifest different symptoms of depression. The presentation is not always identical, though there are common symptoms that many experience. While there may be specific “diagnostic criteria” to be met to have a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder, they can be expressed differently. 

• Adults: Men and women generally exhibit their symptoms differently. According to NIMH, women typically manifest “sadness, worthlessness, and guilt,” while men are “more likely to be very tired, irritable, lose interest in once-pleasurable activities, and have difficulty sleeping.”
• Older adults: This group may be more susceptible to depression, particularly if they develop chronic disorders such as; diabetes, hypertension, a heart condition, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease, etc. Older adults are often undiagnosed due to symptoms seeming to overlap with “aging” or if they choose to keep their symptoms to themselves.The risk is higher for adults and older adults who have developed depression in childhood or later in life.
• Children: Young people also tend to exhibit symptoms differently. Older children can experience behavior issues in school, such as difficulty interacting with other children. They may be confused and not understand what’s happening, and express their negative feelings and thoughts through anger and irritability. Even babies and preschoolers can have depression. They are often undiagnosed because many parents and medical practitioners think that it is just a passing phase.
• Adolescents: Depression in adolescence can make the teen years doubly difficult. During this challenging phase of life, many teens with depression manifest symptoms that can be mistaken for just being difficult, and they are often undiagnosed. Apart from the usual signs to watch for if you are a parent of a teenager, it pays to look for other issues that may develop as a consequence of worsening depressive symptoms such as disordered eating, self-harm, and substance abuse.

Depression Can Be Treated

There is no reason to stay stuck in depression, it is treatable. There are no quick fixes for depression and you will not recover from it overnight, but therapy can help. Even the most serious cases of depression are treatable.

Counseling can help you to address triggers to depression and find healthier ways to cope. You can learn valuable skills to improve your symptoms. Many approaches can be effective, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). 

Carolina Counseling Services in Pittsboro contracts with skilled, licensed therapists who can help. Call today to schedule your first appointment!

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