Online therapy for depression
What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by the continued presence of sadness, apathy, tiredness, anhedonia or loss/increase of appetite, among other symptoms.
Although it is quite common to hear “I am depressed”, this phrase is often used to describe a mood that does not necessarily meet all the diagnostic criteria of clinical depression.
How can online therapy help you battle depression?
Online therapy can help you by providing a space where you can explore and address the causes of your discomfort as well as express your emotions and thoughts with a professional on a daily basis. Throughout your therapeutic process, you’ll learn how to implement these techniques to improve your well-being.
How many types of mood disorders are there?
Although depression is a commonly known mood disorder, it doesn’t mean that having changes in mood will lead to a diagnosis of depression. The following are other types of mood disorders:
- Major depression
- Dysthymia
- Depressive episode
- Bipolar disorder (type I and II)
The disorders mentioned above share symptoms and require help to cope with them and avoid possible relapses.
What are the most common symptoms of depression or mood disorders?
The most easily recognizable symptoms of mood disorders are sadness or apathy. However, there are many other symptoms that may indicate that, if they appear collectively or are prolonged over time, you may be suffering from a mood disorder. These are the most frequent ones:
- Alterations in sleep and/or rest
- Feeling of loneliness
- Lack of energy
- Thoughts related to death and/or suicide
- Mood and appetite swings
- Anhedonia or the inability to experience pleasure
- Lack of energy
Bipolar disorder is a type of mood that is characterized by the presence of manic episodes followed by depressive ones. A manic or hypomanic episode may be characterized by:
- Euphoria or exaggerated feeling of well-being
- Abnormal episodes of optimism
- Lack of energy
- Acting impulsively and/or carrying out risky behaviors
- Sleeping very few hours
- Energy boost
- Speaking very fast and jump from one subject to another
What are the main causes of depression?
Depression and other mood disorders can have many different causes. These may be related to individual factors such as genetic inheritance, personality and biochemical alterations. Other causes may be related to environmental factors such as stressful events, lifestyle choices, social environment, etc.
I may need professional help to cope with depression if:
- I feel that I am not able to overcome my sense of deep despair on my own
- I live with a permanent feeling of bitterness
- I am having difficulties sleeping or resting
- I have a hard time doing the things I did before
- I no longer enjoy the things that used to make me happy
- I think about death or about ending my life often
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