Depressive and Bipolar Disorders

Depression isn’t just feeling sad, it’s something that can touch every part of your life. It can make it tough to think clearly, sap your energy, and leave you feeling disconnected from the things and people you care about. Everyday tasks might feel overwhelming, and relationships or work can become even more challenging. Depression isn’t a weakness or something you can just “snap out of.” If you’re feeling like this will never end, remember things can and do get better.

Depression manifests differently in each person, affecting emotions, thoughts, and physical health in unique ways. While people might experience more physical symptoms (like sleep issues), others will struggle with emotional regulation (like irritability or hopelessness). Depression also impacts the way we see ourselves and the world, impacting motivation and concentration. The intensity, frequency, and duration of these symptoms can vary greatly. At its worst, depression leads to persistent negative thoughts, and thoughts of self-harm. Understanding these variations is key to providing effective support. 

Depression makes us believe things that just aren’t true such as, it will last forever; you're a burden; you don't deserve help; or no one cares. If you can recognize that your thoughts are harmful, you can change them. With time and practice, your thoughts can become encouraging. When you feel better, life is better. You deserve to feel like yourself again.

Getting through depression is a gentle and gradual process. It’s hard to put on a show for others or hear clichés like "I hope you feel better soon". But restoring is possible and each of us has unique strengths to get us through the ups and downs. My approach is personalized for you, blending options like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based practices, self-compassion, distress tolerance, lifestyle adjustments, and acknowledging our strengths.