For everyone, some days are harder than others. It is not uncommon to
want to stay home and be lazy or maybe delay some chores or errands
for another time. Sometimes, however, these lazy days and loss of
interest or desire turn into something more. Do any of these
situations sound familiar?
Do you no
longer find interest in things that you used to?
Your loved ones
ask, “are you okay?” more than before?
Have you missed
out on your child’s or partner’s life events because it was too
hard to leave the house or get out of bed?
Do you find
your emotions being uncontrollable, absent, or riddled with guilt,
shame, or despair?
In addition to these
features, depression can result in significant physical, emotional,
and relational ways that influence our daily lives. Here at Shiloh,
we are here to walk alongside you in finding happiness, connection,
and belongingness once again.
Why Is Depression
Hurting My Marriage?
Depression does not
only impact the person struggling with it. For many couples, a
partner struggling with depression leads to a loss of intimacy,
connection, helplessness, and loneliness. While this is hard enough,
depression has a way of making someone feel guilty because of the way
they feel and the things that they do or do not do, like upset their
partner by not going to a planned event. This continual process of
depression’s intrusion and disconnection from your partner leads to
a seemingly never-ending cycle. At Shiloh, we can help both you and
your partner learn skills, strategies, and techniques, as well as
understand depression’s hold in your life, and work towards
re-connection, increased intimacy, and an overall better outlook on
life with new-found control over depression.
The Cycle of
Depression
Depression has a
sneaky way of taking hold in your life. One way to begin
understanding depression is by recognizing how our thoughts,
actions, and feelings are all related.
Pretend that you and your partner get in a big fight. Now you feel
disconnected, lonely, and sad, you take an action and
separate yourself further from your partner. Finally, you may begin
to have thoughts about what you did, or they did that
make you feel even worse and make to actin a way that further disconnects you.
See how that works?
And what is worse is that this cycle can be made worse by other
things in life and can be caused by things that have nothing to do
with your relationship, yet your relationships are still negatively
impacted. Regardless of whether the cycle of depression you are
experiencing is individual or relational, you should not be in this
alone. We at Shiloh are trained to help you navigate the
frustrations, difficulties, and challenges that come with depression.
Can My Child or
Teen Have Depression?
Absolutely.
Depression is something that does not care how old you are or what
your job is. While depression does have a typical set of symptoms and
ways it manifests in life, it can be slightly more difficult to
recognize depression in children, and especially teenagers.
In both children and
teenagers, some of the most common features of depression look like
this:
school
difficulties
losing
friendships
wanting to quit
extracurricular activities
staying in
their room more than usual (which can be especially difficult with
teenagers)
An overall loss
of interest in their favorite games, toys, places, or activities
Changes in
sleep, eating, and hygiene habits
If your child or
teen is experiencing any of these features and you have noticed them
for several weeks or a couple months, they may be experiencing
depression. At Shiloh, we have therapists trained in cognitive
behavioral therapy and behavioral activation, both of which are
evidence-based and widely accepted as some of the most effective
treatments for child and teenage depression.
If you believe your
child or teen is experiencing depression, it is never too early or
too late to seek help. Together, you and your child or teen’s
therapist will work to develop the best course of action to manage
and address your child’s needs. In many cases, recruitment of their
pediatrician and PCP is also important to ensure that sleep and
eating patterns are not causing additional problems, as all of us at
Shiloh want to make sure that you and your child are healthy and
safe.
No matter what, when
you and your loved ones come to Shiloh Counseling Services, our
therapists will work with you through evidence-based treatments to
provide your family with the hope and direction to experience life to
the fullest once again.