Depression and Mood Issues

Have you been struggling with:

 

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Feeling sad, down, angry, and hopeless, or maybe feeling nothing at all

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No longer finding anything interesting or enjoyable – nothing feels worth the effort anymore, not even things that are important or that you used to love

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Negative thoughts about yourself, feeling worthless, and beating yourself up for mistakes you made whether they happened yesterday or years ago

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Feeling like you can’t focus on anything, can’t remember anything, or like your mind is sluggish and just doesn’t work like it used to.

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Feeling exhausted all the time, mentally and physically.

Feeling good
again is
possible.

There are a number of effective approaches to
treating depression. Part of depression is feeling
hopeless, but it can get better. We can help.

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental health conditions in Canada, with 1 in 7 Canadians being diagnosed with depression over their lifetimes. Despite this, depression still remains misunderstood and stigmatized. Depression is not the same as feeling blue. It is not a weakness. It is not something you can “snap out of.” Depression is a pervasive and debilitating condition arising from a complex combination of genetic, psychological, neurological, and social factors. It causes persistent feelings of sadness, numbness, and hopelessness.

Living with depression is like being lost in a heavy fog that blurs the world into shades of gray. It saps all the enjoyment out of life, leaving you dragging yourself through the motions with no motivation, no energy, and no joy. Daily tasks become monumental struggles and even small decisions feel overwhelming.

Concentration, memory, and clear-thinking all become muddled and impaired. Your mind seems to hone in on the negative and loves to replay mistakes or point out your short-comings. Relentless self-criticism haunts your thoughts, eroding your self-esteem. Social connections fray as it feels easier to just withdraw than try to put on a happy face or seem “normal” for others.

Depression can make you feel like recovery is impossible, but it’s not. There are effective treatments for depression. We can help you to shift negative thoughts, rebuild your self-esteem, and reconnect with your lost pleasure and motivation. We can address root issues and current stressors that are contributing to depression so that you can construct a life that is more supportive of your well-being. We can help you rediscover enjoyment, meaning, and connection.

Want to learn more? Check out some of the resources below!

This well-known and well-supported video from the World Health Organization provides a great depiction of how depression affects us. The WHO YouTube channel also has a companion video for those who want to best support someone experiencing depression.