Depression can be difficult to tolerate, and individual counseling is available for those who deal with it, whether on a daily basis or every so often. It can run the spectrum from a gnawing feeling of low, constant fatigue, worry to feeling hopeless, despair, trapped, and desperately alone.
If you experience any or all of this, you have a lot on your plate. Terri Clinton Dichiser, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Kansas, has provided exceptional individual counseling and other services to clients since 1991. Sometimes we believe all things should be attainable – a successful career, good friends, happy marriage and family. But, we often find ourselves feeling unsettled, dissatisfied and depressed just trying to keep up.
When you’re going through a tough time it’s normal to feel down for a while, emotions like sadness and grief are normal and part of being human. But if you’re feeling sad or miserable most of the time, you might have depression. The signs and symptoms of depression should be taken seriously if they last for more than two weeks and/or if they leave you feeling unsafe at any point in time.
Depression can be so difficult to manage and experience that you develop defenses especially if you grew up in an environment of depression, you may have had to protect yourself from both the aloneness and the depression. It is possible you unconsciously had to develop and employ subtle defenses. These subtle coping mechanisms, ones that were once life saving, now can add to depression. Low self-esteem, self-deprecation, minimizing, or distorted and hurtful thoughts may serve as coping strategies. These mechanisms, including depressive thoughts that may have at one time been protective, now are self-destructive.
Terri proposes a better way to deal with depression is a positive lifestyle to change your neural pathways. Your brain can change as Terri helps you develop different behavior and beliefs. Consistent individual therapy, healthy relationships, stress management, avoiding toxic relationships and compassion are vital to dealing with depression and anxiety.The way social media is used is important. For example, active (compared to passive) social media use can be beneficial. Although browsing Instagram has been associated with increased depression, talking to others online increases life satisfaction. Individual counseling with Terri will give you one-on-one time in a safe, comfortable environment.