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5 Signs that You May Have Depression

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It is easy to misunderstand depression or misdiagnose yourself. Most people believe that their ‘depression’ is just a response to stressful situations in life and not a clinical condition. Unfortunately, that means they ignore treatment and continue to suffer the symptoms for a long time. The symptoms of depression can have a big impact on a person’s overall quality of life and can even lead to self-harm. That’s one of the reasons why experts recommend visiting a psychologist if you experience any sort of persistent sadness. Here are some signs that you should particularly be on the lookout for:

1. Persistent Fatigue and Sleep Issues

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of major depressive disorder. Most affected people struggle to get out of bed and lack the energy to do things that interested them before. For example, a depressed individual may even struggle to read a book they have been wanting to read for a long time. Fatigue is coupled with sleep issues like insomnia, hypersomnia, and restless sleep. If you experience fatigue or sleep issues, it is a good idea to speak with a psychologist.

2. Hopelessness and Lack of Interest

These are also very common symptoms of depression. Patients struggling with a major depressive disorder often feel hopeless and dispirited, wondering if their life has any purpose or direction. It is also very difficult for them to feel any sort of interest in or enthusiasm for different activities like socialization, games, movies, work, chores, or hobbies. Even things that interested them before will not draw much attention.

3. Irritability and Violent Mood Swings

Irritability and violent mood swings are often displayed by men suffering from a major depressive disorder. This ailment can affect men and women differently, which is why seeking professional assistance is important. Irritability doesn’t just cause distress to people suffering from the ailment, it can also have an impact on their personal and professional relationships. If you’re suffering from increased irritability, it is a good idea to speak with a therapist. You can do so discreetly through online therapy on platforms like eTherapy Pro.

4. Changes in Appetite and Weight

It is common for people to experience some form of physical changes when they’re suffering from a major depressive disorder. This can vary from person to person because some people lose their appetite and experience unhealthy weight loss. Some people binge eat and consume more unhealthy food. They gain excessive weight as a consequence, which can also have lifetime consequences. Addressing the root cause of the problem can help you get back on track.

5. Thinking about Death

People suffering from depression often find the idea of death more appealing than life. Even if they’re not actively suicidal, they consider death to be a release and relief. Dying isn’t far from their mind and they believe they will welcome it instead of fearing it. Many patients suffering from the major depressive disorder are also actively suicidal. If you experience these thoughts, seek help immediately.

Platforms like eTherapy Pro provide easy access to online therapy for people struggling with depression. You don’t even need to visit a psychologist’s office. You can just fill up a form online and get a qualified and professional therapist assigned to you.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

6 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Online Therapy Sessions

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Online therapy is a relatively new thing for most people. Clients don’t realize that their approach to online therapy should be a little different from traditional face-to-face sessions. Because of this, many clients are dissatisfied with their therapy and quit before they see any concrete improvement in their mental health. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your online therapy sessions:

1. Pick the Right Therapist

The first step is to pick the right therapist and platform. There are several etherapy websites out there but not all of them are equal. Most websites provide free sessions to new clients and it is a good idea to take full advantage of them. Platforms like eTherapy Pro have a form that clients can fill out before they’re assigned a therapist. You can attend a few sessions to see if the therapist is suitable for you before committing to them.

2. Get in the Mood

It is important to take your sessions seriously and to get into the right mood for them. Make sure you are free some 15 to 20 minutes before and after the session to just relax. If you’re attending the session from your room, remove clutter from your surroundings, light a soothing candle, and create a comfortable environment that allows you to relax completely. Make sure you’ve eaten something and have water with you to hydrate when needed. These small things can help prepare your mind for therapy and ensure you aren’t very stressed out.

3. Make Sure You Have Some Privacy

Don’t multitask when you’re attending online therapy; focus on the session completely and forget that the outside world has existed for some time. If you don’t maintain privacy, you won’t feel comfortable sharing personal things and will be worried that someone will overhear or read your chat over your shoulder. Tell your friends, colleagues, and family members know that you’re not available unless there’s an emergency.

4. Have a Positive Attitude Towards Therapy

Some people don’t believe therapy works or can help them. Some even think that they’re overreacting by reaching out to a therapist. Having a positive attitude towards therapy can go a long way in helping you recover. Believe that a therapist can help you overcome your mental health issues, commit to every session, and follow the advice offered as much as possible.

5. Be Consistent

One of the reasons why people don’t experience much success with online therapy is that they’re not consistent. Maintaining a proper schedule can help you recover faster and get better results. Schedule your sessions at a fixed time every week or month, attend every session religiously unless there’s urgent business, and apply the advice provided diligently. Therapy requires active participation from the client to be successful. If you’re consistent, you’ll be able to get through therapy quickly and get on the right track.

Platforms like eTherapy Pro make it easier for people to get consistent therapy at an affordable cost. You can benefit from the absolute privacy and anonymity of online therapy platforms, which is a big advantage for people living in risky environments.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

Depression is a Byproduct of Schizophrenia

Anxiety

Very much like depression, schizophrenia is also one of the first mental disorders that gave rise to the overall awareness about mental health as a serious concern. Schizophrenia is a very unique and rare mental disorder that disturbs the reality of the person affected by it. Schizophrenia is a very serious disease that greatly affects the patient’s behavior, which makes it a very versatile disease.

Unlike other mental disorders, like depression or anxiety, schizophrenia tends to directly affect the mind and hinders a person’s reality. This means that a person suffering from this disease can see people who otherwise do not exist or feel warmth in cold weather. These are only two of many examples that show how severe the disease is.

However, one of the greatest concerns that experts around the world share about schizophrenia is the possible damage that depression can cause with schizophrenia. Throughout the years, as awareness grew for mental illnesses around the world, both scientists and psychologists have found that depressive symptoms are not uncommon in people who have other mental illnesses.

Since it is very common for people with other mental illnesses to have depression, it is safe to say that people with schizophrenia will also experience it at some point; the real question is when.

One of the greatest difficulties that a psychologist faces is telling a patient with schizophrenia that whatever they believe is false. It is not only hard to explain to them how their beliefs are fake, rather the aftermath of this can be quite catastrophic. For a patient who has this grave disease, the time when they most likely become prone to depression is when they have to come to grips with reality.

Patients often show symptoms of extreme depression in the form of suicidal tendencies, insomnia, fatigue, and loss of appetite. All of the aforementioned symptoms reflect into depression and how it can greatly affect schizophrenia and exacerbate the original disease.

Another factor that can possibly influence depression in a person with schizophrenia is their inability to relieve themselves of their reality. Not only it is hard for a person with schizophrenia to accept that what they believe in isn’t real, but it is also very hard for them to let go or relieve themselves of their thoughts.

 

If you have been experiencing Depression please start a FREE trial of online counseling and get help today.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

Can Severe changes in Lifestyle causes Depression

causes depression

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the world. Not only does it greatly hinder the productivity and efficiency of a person, but it can also greatly affect their physicality and slow down the healing process if they have other ailments.

Although it is one of the world’s most recognized mental disorders, many experts have yet to find a proper cause for depression. For some it may be genetic, for others, it may be due to a change in career paths. So, to better understand what can cause depression, let’s look into how changes in your lifestyle can cause depression.

Changes in one’s lifestyle can happen for several various reasons; whether it is because of starting a new job or becoming a parent, major changes in one’s life can greatly affect their mood. For example, any high school student can hold together their social life, studying, sports, and other curricular activities fairly easily. Nevertheless, as a high school student moves on to college or university, things get a little harder for them.

They seem to struggle to find time to indulge in sports or to socialize due to a relatively harder course and curriculum.

This learning curve can seem like a big challenge for certain people, and is in many cases very hard for some people to cope with their loss of routine. This can trigger a depressive episode, which if left untreated can further devolve into major depressive disorder.

Other than voluntary lifestyle changes, involuntary changes in your lifestyle can also be a cause for depression. In other words, healing from injuries or an accident is an adequate cause for depression.

For example, a victim of an earthquake or an accident loses one or all of their limbs as a result of that accident. Now during the time of recovery, experiencing depressive symptoms won’t be due to the change of lifestyle but rather due to the trauma, so it can either be depression or grief – which is a different topic on its own.

After the victim recovers and returns from the hospital and tries to resume his life, they will face some trouble as a result of the injuries. Experiencing depressive symptoms at this moment in time can be due to a major lifestyle change, as the victim has to adapt accordingly as a result of their current condition.

However, these two types of lifestyle changes are not solely responsible for a person’s depressive symptoms. The introduction of drug abuse, lack of sleep, or overworking are all lifestyle changes that can lead to depression.

Moreover, addiction to prescription drugs or any other types of drugs can also be the cause of depression, which can lead to a multitude of physical problems.

Today, depression is one of the most well-known of all mental disorders and is the one that sheds light on other disorders that people suffer from. This case study shines a light on the possibility of lifestyle changes that can cause depression.

If you have been experiencing depression please start a FREE trial of online counseling and get help today.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

Nature’s Medicine

Time in Nature May be the Ultimate Healer

People who suffer from depression, obesity and a number of other complaints may benefit from more time spent in nature, according to a recent report.
Natures Medicine – This means that if you are depressed, obese, anxious, or feeling a general lack of well-being, you should consider spending more time not just outdoors but in nature. City dwellers should make an effort not just to run laps around the park, but actually get outside of the city to be with trees, grass, blue skies and fresh air. The benefits are well worth the investment.

How Can Spending Time in Nature Benefit You?

Recent studies suggest that individuals can benefit from time in nature in a number of ways:
  • Reduction in depression and the need for anti-depressant medications
  • Low incidence of obesity
  • Lower incidence of allergies
  • Increased life expectancy
  • Reduced blood pressure among pregnant women
  • Increased sense of self-esteem
  • Overall increased wellness
If you want to improve your overall health and mental and emotional well-being, spending time in nature is an easy, positive step in the right direction. While spending time outside of an urban environment and in a rural one is ideal, some studies suggest that urban dwellers benefit simply from having more trees planted along city blocks.

How Does Nature Medicine Work as a Healer?

It seems that part of the healing power of nature is simply the sense of relaxation that humans experience in a natural environment. This helps us slow down and reap the benefits of relaxation, rather than worrying about our busy lives. Additionally, time in nature often equates to time being physically active: walking, hiking or whatever your favorite outdoor activity may be. Rather than being sedentary, as many of us are prone to, spending time in nature encourages activity. This would explain some of the positive benefits.
Many individuals have understood intuitively that spending time in nature can be a powerful, healing experience. We now have research that supports this.
Start your Free trial of online counseling and talk to a counselor about incorporating more nature into your life.

 

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.