How to Determine If You’re Depressed And Choose The Right Therapist

If you’re feeling depressed and are struggling with depression, you are not alone. A research study conducted back in 2017 by the National Institute of Mental Health showed that more than 7 percent of adults in the US had at least one episode of depression.

In September 2020, another study published by the JAMA Network found that symptoms of depression tripled in the US due to the pandemic. Symptoms of depression are not always obvious. Most of the time, the changes are subtle, and the affected person might not notice. However, their families and friends might. No one condition or pattern can determine whether a person is depressed or not.

Some symptoms might be as mild as staying at home to watch television instead of socializing with friends to more severe such as persistent suicidal thoughts. Depression can be troubling to diagnose, especially if the patient displays more than one symptom or if it persists for a couple of weeks.

Symptoms Of Depression

There are two types of depressive disorders namely major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder. Individuals with persistent depressive disorder usually display similar symptoms to those with major depressive disorder. There are more than a thousand symptom combinations that can lead to a major depressive disorder diagnosis.

If you recognize these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it’s important to seek professional help.

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1. Sleep disturbances

Sleep disturbance is a common symptom among depressed individuals. You can either experience hypersomnia (sleeping excessively) or insomnia (difficulty sleeping).

Insomnia is a common symptom that occurs in more than 80 percent of depressed people. Younger people are more likely to find themselves sleeping too much. Sleep disturbances can be both a symptom and a cause of depression. Improving the quality of sleep is essential for your health and well-being.

2. Psychomotor Disturbance

Psychomotor skills comprise thinking and movement. It includes factors such as coordination and balance. These psychomotor disturbances can either be classified as psychomotor retardation or psychomotor agitation.

Psychomotor agitation is excessive motor activity due to a feeling of tension or inner restlessness. The activity is usually repetitive and purposeless. And may consist of behaviors such as fidgeting, pacing, and an inability to sit or stay still.

The psychomotor retardation is the opposite of psychomotor agitation. It involves slow thinking, speech, and body movement. This can affect an individual’s life in many ways from getting out of bed to even socializing with friends and family.

You may find yourself preoccupied with trivial events, failures or believe that the minor mistakes that you’ve made are proof of inadequacy. 

For instance, after a breakup, you might end up saying a lot of unpleasant things to your partner. This can lead you to consider yourself the cause of everything that happened while ignoring other issues that were affecting the relationship.

Feelings of worthlessness and inappropriate guilt are common symptoms among depressed individuals. Once you feel guilty, it can lead to delusion and holding on to beliefs that harm your self-esteem.

4. Fatigue

Another common symptom of both major and persistent depressive disorders is fatigue. Depressed individuals tend to feel tired all the time. And this can interfere with their ability to function properly. You might find yourself avoiding housework or not taking care of your children. The fatigue can be overwhelming at times.

5. Difficulty concentrating

People with persistent and major depressive disorders usually have a hard time focusing on one thing and making decisions. Others may notice that they experience difficulty thinking clearly. This effect is quite common among adults. They may have a hard time processing their thoughts and attribute this symptom to a decline in cognition.

Finding The Right Therapist

If you have been experiencing some or all of the symptoms that we’ve mentioned here, you should consider therapy. To improve your mental health and promote your wellbeing, you need to find the right therapist. Research studies have found that the bond between you and your therapist greatly affects your growth. Here are a few simple tips that you can use to find the ideal therapist for you.

While relying on referrals can help you find your ideal therapist, you need to keep in mind that you may have different goals or needs than the person referring you.

2. Use Local Resources

Your community has a lot of resources that can help you find the right therapist. If you are a college student, a counseling center can be a good starting point.

In the place of work, where you are an employee, you can request the human resource manager to help you find therapists who are active in workplace wellness programs.

If you need counseling linked to sexual abuse or domestic violence, you can find individual or group therapy through local organizations.

3. Try Online Therapy

There are a lot of online tools that you can use to get assistance. Some of the best platforms include Betterhelp and Talkspace. Some digital therapy platforms are more affordable and convenient compared to in-person therapy.

Conclusion

If you notice some or all of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it’s important to seek help as early as you can. You should always prioritize your mental health.

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Who Is The Author?

Eliza Sadler is a professional journalist with extensive experience, 4 years. She also works as a freelancer and writes a lot of articles at essay writers for hire service. She always focused on doing quality work to achieve her goals and objectives. Eliza is fascinated by the ability to create original works that meet high standards. Feel free to connect with her by email.