One in Four Women Experience Depression in Her Lifetime

I want to normalize something. I want to normalize depression.

So often we feel like we’re supposed to be happy all the time. We feel ashamed when we are not smiling, joyful and energetic. It’s this shame that usually leads us to instead of asking for help, push down feelings, muscle through and silently suffer.

I have worked with hundreds of teens, women and men who are experiencing depression but have trouble naming it because depression feels so stigmatizing. And once I help them finally name it, they feel so much more relief.

TOOLS

Here are some common experiences of depression:

• irritability, agitation and rage

• tearful spells, being sad for no apparent reason

• fatigue that cannot be resolved after resting

• dread and hopelessness

• inability to get motivated or stay motivated

• disinterest in the thing you used to enjoy

• emotional rawness, feeling constantly sad under the surface

• lots of negative thoughts, cynical thoughts and fears

• loud inner critic, shame and guilt

• scary or unusual thoughts

• feeling not good enough and broken

• emotional numbness - feeling neither sadness or happiness or anything in between

• engaging in self-harm

• intensely low self-esteem

• experiences feeling dull and pointless

• avoiding social outings, work or school

• lack of focus and concentration

• brain fog

• or this video (trigger warning)

Depression can look so different for each person. Depression can also come and go. It’s not always persistent. There are different definitions for depression that allow for depression to be classified as low grade or mild. Depression is not always being suicidal.

GRATITUDE

I find it important to understand depression so we can all feel more comfortable saying, “me too” or “wow that sounds like my sister/mom/child/friend”. And then asking for help becomes the next step. EVEN if it feels mild. EVEN if it feels shameful. EVEN if you’ve been raised to “deal with it” and “this too shall pass”.

I love these blog posts for helping us identify and name depression, including perinatal mood disorders.

INNOVATION

At Reset, our team sees clients at all stages of mental and emotional health issues. So many times, we’re trying to catch the depression BEFORE it turns into something more inhibiting.

Preventative mental health care isn’t yet mainstream. Insurance doesn’t cover for us to see a therapist two times a year for a check-up like we do for the dentist. We don’t get screened for mental health concerns twelve times in nine months like we do for high blood pressure when pregnant.

But at Reset, we believe in prevention. We believe in seeing you BEFORE the issues become so severe. It means asking for help maybe just before you really need it. It means getting vulnerable, courageous and honest with your emotions. It means putting aside the shame and guilt to reach out. It means allowing someone to give back to you.

I want you to meet Lisa, Erica and Caitie- our three newest team members. All three of them have incredible skills for prevention and also treating acute mental health issues. They are taking new clients - adolescents and adults - and are warm, intelligent and passionate about helping.

FEELS

So much of what Reset offers is what I wish I had when I was a kid. I certainly struggled with low self-esteem, disordered eating, anxiety and depression. I remember coming home from school if my parents were not home and immediately thinking they were all murdered in the closet. Talk about intrusive thoughts.

My passion, and our team’s passion, is helping people who would otherwise never ask for help.

Is that you? Because maybe it’s time to let someone help you.

Ready to reset?

WORK WITH ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS

Our amazing team of therapists integrate the most recent innovative and research-supported practices into mental health care. Experience the difference in how you can take care of your mental and emotional well-being. Take that next step to schedule a consultation with one of us.

How Else Can We Help?