Depression Treatment In Portland, OR And Washington State
Most people have experienced depression at some point in their lives. Types of depression include Major recurrent depression, single episode of major depression, and can range in severity from mild to severe. There is also persistent depression that refers to low grade depression that doesn't always impact functioning, although severe depression almost always does.
Symptoms of depression can include:
-Low mood
-reduced or lack of interest in things you used to enjoy
-Difficulty with motivation
-Insomnia
-Hypersomnia
-Fatigue
-Feeling hopeless or worthless
-recurrent thoughts of death
-Suicidal thoughts
-isolating yourself from others
-Feeling physically slow or heavy
-Appetite changes
-Difficulty attending to daily living activities such as basic hygiene
-Crying spells
-Severe episodes can include psychotic features
Many people with depression fall into a negative feedback loop
(infographic/cycle graphic if available)
Depressed thinking—>Depressed behavior (not getting out of bed, missing work or school, lack of enjoyment of things you usually like, etc.)---> brain receives less positive feedback —> Depression worsens —> More depressed behavior, and so forth.
I take a holistic approach to treat depression. No two depressed people have the same symptom profile so I highly personalize treatment to meet you where you are. I want to acknowledge how difficult it can be to reach out for help or initiate treatment when you are feeling very depressed and having trouble doing basic things in the first place. Thank you for gathering your energy to take this step.
If you choose to seek treatment with me, early in treatment, I will get to know you, what your goals are, and hear your story. We will examine your strengths and challenges, and I will help you explore and identify your core values. This is important for motivation and so we can remind you why you are actually doing this in the first place.
Most people have heard of “mind-body connection.” That relationship is very prominent in depression, as it impacts the body and mood drastically. For this reason it is important to pay attention to caring for the body and health just as much as your mind. Taking an inventory of your nutrition, relationships, sleep schedule, caffeine or substance use, and other factors will help us know what is going well and where we have room for improvement.
Other treatment strategies include collaborating on a basic behavioral activation plan to help us engage the mind and body. Cognitive behavioral therapy is an evidenced based treatment for depression. Using this model I can help you learn to recognize cognitive distortions, and ways to reframe your thoughts to be more helpful. I will help you learn to use coping skills that will help you with depression. To support the cognitive changes, we will collaborate on what behavior changes you might want to make, or that might be helpful for you, and identify an actionable plan to feel better. Treatment may include homework between each session, worksheets, journaling, keeping logs, reading or reflecting, practicing skills, creating more opportunities for connection, a behavioral activation plan, SMART goals, accountability, and adopting an attitude of gratitude and a lens for positive experiences.