Depression Treatment | Serenity Wellness & Counseling | Cypress

Feeling empty or numb, disinterested, bored, sad, or chronically tired are symptoms of Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that hundreds of millions of people the world over experience. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that there are as many as 280 million people in the world who have depression. Depression disorder may make you feel like you are alone, but believe me, you are not. Any of the feelings mentioned above, either alone or in combination are typical symptoms of depression. 

Many people associate depression with overwhelming feelings of sadness, but you don’t have to feel sad to be depressed. This is one of the reasons why depression disorder often gets overlooked especially by those who tend to want to put on a stiff upper lip and forge ahead without paying attention to their feelings.  Instead of sadness, you could instead experience a sense of emptiness or boredom. People experience depression differently and to greater and lesser degrees.  If you’re not feeling like yourself, are having trouble getting out of bed and participating in activities you once enjoyed or have any of the feelings already mentioned for an extended period, I’m happy you are here. That means you have taken an action on your behalf.  You may wonder if it is possible to feel other more positive and hopeful emotions. I assure you it is.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has thrown millions of people around the world into a depressive state. The trauma of this distressing event continues to take a toll on people of every age who never previously suffered from depression. Left unattended however, depression can lead to more serious symptoms and potentially destructive behavior.

How we help with depression

Here at Serenity and Wellness Counseling Clinic, we address and treat depression through several research-based modalities. Because depression is experienced differently, each person also responds to approaches differently. We employ Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR).  

CBT is a psychotherapeutic treatment that helps people learn how to identify and change destructive or disturbing thought patterns that have a negative influence on behavior and emotions. The focus of this treatment is to identify and change the negative thoughts that come up so automatically. These are the thoughts that continually contribute to and deepen depression. 

DBT is a modified form of CBT which teaches people how to develop healthy ways of coping with stressful situations, to identify and regulate their emotions. This leads to improved moods and relationships with others.

EMDR is a psychotherapeutic process that is used to help people heal from the symptoms and emotional distress such as depression resulting from traumatic and disturbing life events. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma.  For instance, if you cut your finger, your body works to close the wound.  If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain.  Once the block is removed, healing resumes.  EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes.  The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked by the repeated recollection of of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering.  Once the block is removed, healing resumes.  EMDR therapy sessions helps to activate mind’s natural healing processes.

We will also refer some clients to our in-house clinician for Low Energy Neurofeedback System commonly referred to as LENS Neurofeedback. LENS Neurofeedback is an EEG based, direct neurofeedback system that stimulates the brain to reset itself and achieve optimal performance. Unlike traditional neurofeedback, in which you actively try to regulate brainwaves, LENS therapy is passive. It has been shown to help reduce the symptoms of depression, lift the cloud, and allow the skills learned in the session to be more achievable. 

What are the common symptoms of depression? 

As mentioned above, people express and experience depression differently. Below are some of the most common symptoms of depression.

Mood: anxiety, apathy, general discontent, guilt, hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, mood swings, or sadness

Behavioral: agitation, excessive crying, irritability, restlessness, or social isolation

Sleep: early awakening, excess sleepiness, insomnia, or restless sleep

Whole body: excessive hunger, fatigue, or loss of appetite

Cognitive: lack of concentration or slowness in activity

Weight: weight gain or weight loss

Also common: poor appetite, repeatedly going over thoughts, or thoughts of suicide

What are my treatment options at Serenity Wellness for depression? 

Here at Serenity and Wellness Counseling Clinic, we address and treat depression through several research-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR).  

Are there different kinds of depression?

Depression can be mild, moderate, or severe and can be identified as:

Postnatal depression (PND) 

Bipolar disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) 

Dysthymia

Psychotic depression

Atypical depression

Mixed depression with anxiety disorder

No matter how you are personally experiencing depression, it is possible to identify and change negative thought patterns and to develop healthy ways to deal with stressful situations and feel like participating fully in your life again. To begin your journey of healing and empowerment, you can call me at 281-944-SWCC for a free 15-minute phone consultation. I look forward to working with you

Depression Quiz

Wondering if your feelings of sadness is just a phase or something more? Take our short online depression test to find out if you are living with depression.