You feel really down.
Sometimes, you become sad for little to no reason.
It’s hard to get out of bed in the mornings.
You can’t seem to find joy in your life, no matter how hard you try.
All you want to do is lay in your bed because you’re so tired all the time. And, you have unexplainable aches and pains in your body. You’ve barely wanted to eat and forget personal hygiene tasks like showering! You have zero desire to connect with friends or family let alone go to work. It feels like you are stuck in a brain fog and living with a black cloud over your head. You’re barely functioning and feel overwhelmed by the thought of even trying to be productive.
Most days, you feel like your life is a constant battle. You’re at war with your own mind, trying to control your thoughts in order to avoid slipping into the bottomless pit of depression and hopelessness. It is extremely tiring trying to police your own brain. So, you become frustrated and angry with yourself when you can’t stop your unwanted thoughts. Then, focus on the negative and end up criticizing yourself to the point that the inner-critic takes control of your thoughts.
If This Sounds Familiar, You May Have Depression
First, I want you to know you are not alone and there is help. Depression isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s just something that happens to many, many Americans every day. In fact, it’s estimated that 40 million adults in the United States suffer from depression. However, there is treatment for depression. The first step is to recognize what’s going on. Then, we can talk about how to help you find relief from your depression.
Depression Symptoms include:
- feelings of sadness, worthlessness, or hopelessness that won’t go away.
- pessimism or irritability
- feeling guilty for no reason
- loss of interest in the people or things that used to bring you joy
- fatigue or little energy
- lack of concentration
- changes in your sleep: insomnia, frequent wake-ups, oversleeping
- Loss of appetite or emotional eating
- headaches, muscle aches, stomach issues
- self-harm or suicidal thoughts
* It’s important to note that if you are in crisis and thinking about hurting yourself or someone else, please call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
I Offer Depression Treatment to Give You Hope for a Better Tomorrow
While it may seem difficult to find your way back to hope and happiness, I’ve been helping clients to do just that for years. I believe in the power of therapy to treat depression, because I’ve seen people find happiness again. To experience the joy of warm sunshine on their face, to reconnect with estranged loved ones, and to re-engage with a meaningful life.
Depression is not your fault
Just like other chronic illnesses, depression is not your fault, it’s nothing you’ve caused. And also like many other illnesses, effective treatments exist to help ease and eliminate the struggles you face.
My Approach to Depression Treatment
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help you process how your thoughts affect your behavior. CBT is a very effective form of depression treatment. When you begin counseling for depression, together we will work through what is triggering your depression. Then, you’ll learn how to cope with these triggers. Also, I will teach you how to challenge your inner-critic to ease the self-loathing. My goal is to give you the tools to laugh freely, relax fully, and be present in your daily lives.
You do not have to live with these feelings anymore. Your happiness, well-being, and life are worth it. I know it can be scary to think you can feel better and there can be relief for these heavy feelings. But, I know, deep down you have the strength to tackle these feelings. If you are ready to take the first steps to start feeling better, please contact me today for an appointment.
Begin Depression Treatment in Bloomington, IL today!
You don’t have to live with depression anymore. Counseling can help you live a happier life. To start your counseling journey, follow these simple steps:
- Contact Bridge to Hope Counseling, LCC Online or by calling (309)455-5703
- Talk with me for a free consultation to ask your questions about counseling.
- Begin facing your depression, learning how to cope with those depressive thoughts, and find a new way of living with a healthier mindset!
Other Services Offered at Bridge to Hope Counseling:
In addition to depression treatment, I offer a variety of other mental health services in my Bloomington, IL therapy clinic. Also, I offer online therapy in Illinois to help you when you can’t make it to my counseling office. In general, my approach to counseling for most issues is to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), because research shows it can help with depression, anxiety and a wide range of emotional or mental health concerns. Specifically, I offer anxiety treatment, counseling for poor self-esteem, counseling for college students, LGBTQIA+ affirming counseling, counseling for life transitions. I write blogs to offer you information on timely mental health topics. What’s holding you back from getting help? I am here and ready to help you live your life to the fullest!