Unfortunately, depression has become a very prevailing part of our day-to-day lives. The stress of work and finances builds up on top of personal matters, like family crisis, low self-esteem, and other disturbances. Thankfully, psychologists and mental health professionals have gone in-depth into the study of depression and its symptoms, and if you’re currently facing a time of heartache, apathy, or struggle, you could likely benefit from visiting a therapist. What can a therapist do for me? People of all backgrounds and life circumstances find themselves in need of a therapist every day. The act of seeking out help is not something to be frowned upon, and it is the only surefire way to successfully work through whatever problems you find yourself facing currently. If you’re suffering any of the below symptoms of depression, you could most certainly benefit from speaking with a professional who will be able to help you work through personal issues and re-gain your sense of happiness. What Depression Looks Like Depression looks differently in men and women. While it shares some common symptoms between the two genders, it usually makes itself known in slightly different ways. Men Women Apathy (lack of enthusiasm and/or concern for activities or people) Persistently sad, anxious, or “empty” mood Loss of appetite or changes in eating habits Loss of appetite or tendency to overeat Fatigue, feeling tired and drowsy consistently Fatigue, decreased energy, feeling “slowed down” Loss of interest in activities Loss of interest in activities Low self-esteem Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, pessimism, and hopelessness Sexual problems, including reduced sex drive Reduced sex drive Sleep disturbances Sleeping too much or too little, waking early Thoughts of death or suicide Thoughts of death or suicide Self-destructive behavior such as binge eating, drinking, etc. Physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, like headaches, chronic pain, and digestive disorders   For women, depression tends to make them act sad and emotional whereas, in men, they will typically be irritable, aggressive, and even hostile. How to Handle Depression If you or a loved one appears to be struggling with symptoms of depression, there is no good reason to delay action. Depression is something that often makes people feel as if they are being swallowed whole. The lack of sleep and energy leads to a daily to-dos building up, with the list of stresses looming above the person, feeling bigger each day. This further wears the person out, often lowering their self-esteem even more as they struggle to find joy in pleasurable activities and continue feeling as though they are facing issue after issue in their life. Sleeping problems will begin contributing to physical health issues, and so will the change in eating habits and activities. This can lead to excessive weight loss or gain, and will put a significant amount of added stress on the person, both inside and out. This unfortunate “snowballing” pattern of depression is what leads many to bouts of depression that last for weeks, months, or even years. Without treatment, depression is unlikely to simply disappear on its own. Those facing it will continuously feel powerless and unconfident, and when in a deep state of depression, it is difficult to see things clearly, think rationally, or remind oneself of the “silver lining” of tragedy and inconveniences. The effect is a depression cycle that gets worse and worse. Rather than trying to tackle the issue yourself, the absolute best option is to seek assistance from someone who specializes in helping people overcome such hurdles in their life. Male depression is incredibly common, and more and more people each day are overcoming it by having the courage to ask for help. By choosing to start depression therapy, you can begin getting back to your old self again and feeling better than ever before. What To Expect Depression treatment rarely needs to involve medication. If you are wondering what to expect, there’s no reason to feel overwhelmed by the potential treatment plans. You likely have a few misconceptions about what therapists are like and what exactly they’ll do to help you, but this short list of treatment facts will begin to help clear it up: At the first session and every one there after, you and your therapist will simply be having a conversation. There is nothing to feel anxious or stressed about, and you’ll likely find the time passing by without even thinking about it. Your therapist will never force you to talk about something if you don’t want to share, but the benefit of starting depression therapy is that you have someone there to talk to about anything. As a professional, your therapist will help you see things in a different light and start working through the issues you find yourself facing. As you and your therapist begin to build a trusting relationship, you’ll find yourself opening up with ease. With time, you’ll be able to use the skills and tools your therapist teaches you to start working through your stress and troubles independently. Your therapist’s main goal when you enter into a treatment plan is to help you recover in as little or as much time as it takes. You’ll be able to move at your own pace through therapy, and when you feel you’re ready, you’re free to end your treatment plan. Since it is such a personal issue, the length of time it takes to recover from depression varies. No matter how quickly it happens, however, starting today will put you on the right track. If you are searching for a trusted and professional Denver Therapist, give our office a call today or stop by. We look forward to assisting you on your path to recovery.