Getting Past Depression/Sadness/
Hopelessness/Despair/Hurt

Does the feeling of unhappiness seem to stay with you instead of go away after some time has passed? You know it’s normal for people to feel sad, down, or discouraged at times as a reaction to the hassles of life. When these feelings become more than occasional, lasting longer and stronger, could you be suffering from depression without knowing it?

The Warning Signs of Depression

Depression has a way of zapping energy, reducing motivation, and dulling concentration to make a person lose all the ability to enjoy life. Depression is a strong mood that combines sadness, discouragement, hopelessness, despair, or hurt that can affect not only the emotions but the physical body as well.

All too often, depression comes with physical symptoms easily mistaken as one of those common ailments that can be treated the ordinary way. Yes, depression is highly treatable only when diagnosed and given early treatment. However, the symptoms can be so misleading that when you seek medical help you may not even report your condition accurately. Instead, you’re more likely to complain about a physical illness. (Sometimes it is, but sometimes it is not!) This only highlights the importance of understanding the signs, symptoms, and causes of depressions to get the right treatment to overcome your emotional crisis.

Depression assumes many different forms and varies from person to person. But, regardless of form, there are common signs and symptoms to look out for. If you manifest several of the following, it’s time to seek professional help:

  • significant loss or gain in body weight
  • poor quality of sleep
  • loss of physical energy
  • inability to feel joy and pleasure in daily activities
  • feeling of helplessness and hopelessness
  • lack of self-worth
  • feeling cranky or irritable
  • lack of concentration
  • resorting to escapist behavior
  • unexplained physical aches and pains

Depression is a major risk factor for self-harm. Research has indicated that possessing a persistent bleak outlook is a predictor to the tendency to end the misery abruptly by attempting self-injury. This type of strong feeling associated with depression necessitates urgent help from a trained professional.

Getting Past Your Depressive Condition

Don’t be overwhelmed by the symptoms of depression. Feeling helpless and hopeless does not mean you’re weak or that the situation can’t be overcome. The key to recover from depression is to take one step at a time and it begins by asking for help. The tricky part is finding help from the right people. Reaching out to family and friends can contribute to the process, but it often takes professional help to break free from the debilitating effect of depression.

It is always best and it works to your advantage to seek help from a therapist whom you can trust. At Carolina Counseling Services, we have a MANY caring, friendly licensed counselors whose specialties include managing depression. Calling Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville, NC to request an appointment is that first step to find relief from what’s creating a negative impact to your life. With CCS, you can get past your struggles and find yourself back on track again.

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