Depression
It can be helpful to hear that depression is a common condition, and know that, if you’re feeling depressed, you’re not alone. That doesn’t change the fact that you’re having a tough time, but working with a therapist to receive therapy for depression at The Center for CBT in New York City can help you start reclaiming your satisfying life and experiencing a full range of emotions again.
What is Depression?
Depression is a mood disorder. Like other mood disorders, that means that a healthy emotion is experienced at disproportionate levels, for too long, or has become disruptive to your ability to live a satisfying life. For people who struggle with depression, that means they experience sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest, and generally depressed mood that doesn’t align with the situation, persists for weeks or months, or that otherwise negatively impacts the ability to lead a full life.
What are the signs of depression?
People who have never experienced depression often believe that it’s “just” sadness, but those who struggle with this mood disorder know that depression is so much more than sadness. Depression involves a wide range of effects and can look different from person to person. Some of the ways that people who struggle with depression describe their condition include:
- I struggled to get out of bed in the morning, and then, I just stopped trying.
- I am irritable and unsatisfied all the time.
- I have trouble seeing the glass as half full.
- It started out as grief after a loved one died, but now, I just feel sad all the time.
- At first, I felt sad, but then, I just started feeling numb.
- I just can’t get interested in anything. Not even the things I used to really enjoy.
- I often feel hopeless or listless, and it’s hard to find the energy to achieve even simple goals.
- I feel like I either want to sleep all the time or I can’t fall asleep at all.
- I’m really exhausted all day, and I’m so fatigued my body aches.
- I have difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks. I find myself just staring or zoning out.
- I often think about death and dying. I tell myself everything will be easier if I just end my life.
How does CBT help with depression?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an approach to therapy that explores the way that thoughts, feelings, and actions interact with each other. When applied to supporting those who struggle with depression, therapists typically emphasize a part of CBT called behavioral activation. Even though you’ve probably never heard this term, you almost certainly know what it means. Have you ever had a really good day? Then, you turn on the radio, and your favorite song is playing. So, you feel even better, and next, you run into one of your best friends at the grocery store. By this point, your mood is through the roof. Unconsciously, you’ve been experiencing behavioral activation.
If you’re already feeling a specific way, certain actions will continue to increase this emotional response. For people struggling with depression, the feelings of hopelessness, sadness, apathy, and exhaustion are often compounded by behaviors like staying in bed all day, leaving the lights off, ceasing to perform good self-care, listening to sad music, and other actions that can prolong the depressed moods. Behavioral activation is all about learning how your daily activities are contributing to your disordered moods. We know just how hard it is to get yourself to engage in these behaviors even if you know you “should.” This is why your therapist will help you come up with a fool-proof plan for behavioral activation. Between therapy sessions, you may be asked to track your schedule and everything you do for a few days or a week, and describe how you felt in order to determine specific activities or situations that are linked to depressed mood. By recognizing these patterns and making changes, you’ll be able to start relieving the effects of depression and experiencing an array of healthy emotions. You will also work with your therapist on identifying and challenging thoughts that are contributing to your depressed mood. Therapists will teach you how to use this thought challenging skill in any situation.
What can I expect during therapy?
At your first therapy sessions, we’ll review your health history, past experience with mood changes, past therapy experiences, current events that triggered you to reach out, and the goals you have for your time in therapy. Together, we’ll use this information to develop a therapy plan to learn strategies and tools that allow you to decrease current depressive symptoms and address future incidents of depressed mood. Throughout the course of your therapy sessions, your therapist will continually assess your progress and work with you to adjust your plan, ensuring you’re able to achieve your goals.
Who offers therapy for depression?
Each of our clinicians has years of unique training and experience that allow them to provide therapy using specific approaches that work best for certain clients. Our clinicians who offer therapy for depression are featured below, and you can learn more about them by visiting our team page.
What Should I Do Next?
When you’re ready to begin therapy, we hope you’ll consider contacting The Center for CBT in New York City. We offer a safe space where you are free to be who you really are and express yourself and your values authentically. We embrace, value, and welcome people of all sexual orientations, genders, and racial identities. The Center for CBT in New York City makes beginning your therapy journey simple. You can get started any time by completing our online consultation request form. One of our team members will be in touch within 24 business hours to answer your questions.
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