Depressive Disorders

The Problem

Things feel hopeless and lonely. You might be easily frustrated or exhausted during the day. It’s hard to get out of bed in the morning and hard to turn off the thoughts at night. Your work and relationships are being negatively impacted, but you don’t know how to get out of this cycle. Nothing seems enjoyable anymore. Other people say you’re being too hard on yourself, but you just feel like you’re failing.

Your low mood might be mixed with anxiety or irritability, and it might be affecting your appetite, sleep, and ability to concentrate. Things might have gotten so bad you’ve started having suicidal thoughts and urges. Maybe this all keeps coming back even though you’ve gotten past it before.

Depression can come in different forms. For some people, the trouble may start after a big change like the loss of a job or the end of a relationship. For others, it may not be clear what is causing the symptoms. Besides major depression, there are other types of depressive disorders too, that each require important considerations:

Persistent Depressive Disorder: If you can’t remember the last time you felt real enjoyment, hopefulness, or a healthy amount of self-esteem, it might feel like life is passing you by and there isn’t much to look forward to.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): Every month you know when to expect the waves of distress – maybe it’s shortly before your period, or maybe it’s in the middle of your cycle around ovulation. In addition to the typical experience of depression, you might have mood swings and feel out of control.

Perinatal Depression: When depression symptoms or other types of distress begin during pregnancy or after the baby is born, there are special challenges to consider. You might be having difficulty bonding with your baby, or it may be hard to cope with the demands of a new infant.

Whatever form depression takes for you, you need a way to ease your suffering and bring back meaning to your life.