MyThoughts

     In this month's blog I would like to wrap up this series on depression by discussing some of the causes of depression.  Contrary to popular belief, there is no concrete evidence that depression is genetically inherited or that it is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.  There are some research studies that show some slight evidence for those two things as being contributing factors to depression but the research in general is inconclusive.  Depression for the most part is caused by psychological factors which means that psychotropic drugs such as antidepressants will do little to cure depression.  Antidepressants are a palliative approach to treating depression which means that they only work on relieving the symptoms of depression such as irritable mood, insomnia, hypersomnia, or fatigue.  They do not work on treating the psychological root of the problem which is why psychotherapy is recommended to help alleviate depression from the underlying cause.

What are the true causes of depression?

• Depression is centered on a sense of loss.  In essence, the depressed person feels that he has lost someting that is essential to his happiness or survival.  This could include the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, feeling that youth or physical attractiveness is lost, or many other things.  Whatever the sense of loss is centered around, the feelings engendered by it are equivalent to feeling that life will never be complete or fulfilling.
• The gap of where one thinks they should be in life and where they actually are in life is too great.  An example of this would be a woman who feels that she should have accomplished much more in her life by age 40.  She feels depressed because she thought she would have been married, graduated from college and started a family by 40.  Depression occurs in these situations when people feel that defects in their personality or character are at fault for the underachievements.  
• Existential concerns.  Depression often occurs when people do not understand what their purpose is in life or why they have been put on Earth.  Severe religious or spiritual conflicts and moral and ethical dilemmas may also be of relevance in this category.    

     The causes listed above are only abreviated and highly generalized categories.  There are many more psychological causes of depression but, many of the causes will fit into one of those categories.  Those who may be afflicted with depression can take comfort in the facts that depression is highly treatable in many cases and that there are many experienced and qualified counselors and psychotherapists that can provide answers and treatment. Those who may be unsure if they are depressed or not could benefit from talking to a professional in the mental health field before things deteriorate further. Preventative measures can be taken to thwart depression before it becomes unmanageable which is perhaps the most preferred method of treatment.

Sincerely,

Nathan M. Comerford, MA, LLPC, NCC

Nathan M. Comerford is a psychotherapist in Farmington Hills, MI who has been helping people with their relationship issues, emotional difficulties and mental health problems for the past 8 years. 

Thought Perspectives Counseling
31275 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 120
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Phone: (248) 932-7799
www.thoughtperspectives.com

• If you or someone you know needs to speak to someone regarding relationship issues, emotional difficulties or mental health problems, help is a phone call away.  Schedule an appointment today!
  Just call (248) 932-7799 to set up an appointment with
  Nathan Comerford, MA LLPC NCC.
      
  Visit www.thoughtperspectives.com for more information on counseling and psychotherapy!
  
  Visit the "Ask the Counselor" Blog at:www.thoughtperspectives.com/blog
  
• This is a question and answer blog where Nathan answers questions concerning mental health topics.
•  If you have a question, you can send it to: questions@thoughtperspectives.com to have it answered by: Nathan Comerford, MA, LLPC, NCC.

 Depression Statistics:

• 14.8 million (6.7%) adult Americans are affected by Major Depressive Disorder in a given year.  (Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun; 62(6) : 617-27)
• Women experience depression at twice the rate of men.  (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1996)
• Depression is the cause of over two-thirds of the 30,000 suicides reported every year in the U.S.  (White House Conference on Mental Health, 1999)
• Despite its high treatment success rate, nearly two out of three people suffering with depression do not actively seek nor receive proper treatment.  (Depression And Bipolar Support Alliance, 1996) 

     Over the next several months I will be writing about depression and answering questions related to depression.  As you can see from the statistics presented above, the pervasiveness of depression is highly significant among our population and it only gets worse as time moves forward.  I would like to start this series out by looking at why people with depression do not seek treatment or why they wait until the level of severity becomes so intense that it becomes much more difficult to treat. 

Question: If depression has a high treatment success rate, then why do people forego treatment?

• When people are depressed, the motivation to seek help can evaporate.

     The paradoxical nature of depression is perhaps one of its most debilitating characteristics.  A person who is truly depressed can experience an almost complete reversal in behavior and personality traits.  When depression hits, instincts for self-preservation disappear, the panacea of sleep diminishes and biological drives such as sex and hunger become irrelevant.  Any enjoyment in life is replaced with the drive to intensify emotional pain and suffering.  For example, the depressed person will intentionally avoid engaging in behaviors or activities that will improve their situation.  Exercising, eating healthy and seeking out counseling or therapy are just a few things that will be avoided even though they are known to be helpful.  Escape, avoidance and withdrawal consume the depressed person.

     The motivation to seek help is absent because those experiencing depression become enraptured by pessimism and negative thought patterns. This in turn engenders beliefs that they deserve to be miserable and that they are undeserving of a happy and fulfilling life.  In other words, they do not seek help because they do not believe they are worthy of being helped.       

• Stigma in seeking help is still present.

     Even though counseling and psychotherapy have become much more accepted and mainstream since their inception, the stigma to seek out mental health services still presides.  Most people do not have a problem seeking out medical services when they are physically ill or having a medical crisis.  The same cannot be said for people experiencing mental illness or emotional crises.  Perhaps it is because people see that medical problems are outside their locus of control whereas emotional problems are not.  When it comes to emotional difficulties, many people feel that they should be able to handle them on their own without any outside assistance.  On a similar note, some even feel that they have some how failed in their personal lives if they have to ask for emotional assistance.  Not too many people feel guilty or ashamed to ask for help when they are afflicted with medical conditions like diabetes or cancer.  The fact remains that those who can humble themselves to seek help for their emotional and psychological problems are more likely to make improvements in their lives.

     In my next blog I will be discussing several definitions of depression as well as what depression really looks like.

Sincerely,

Nathan M. Comerford, MA, LLPC, NCC

• If you or someone you know needs to speak to someone regarding relationship issues, emotional difficulties or mental health problems, help is a phone call away.  Schedule an appointment today!
  Just call (248) 932-7799 to set up an appointment with
  Nathan Comerford, MA LLPC NCC.
      
  Visit www.thoughtperspectives.com for more information on counseling and psychotherapy!
  
  Visit the "Ask the Counselor" Blog at:www.thoughtperspectives.com/blog
  
• This is a question and answer blog where Nathan answers questions concerning mental health topics.
•  If you have a question, you can send it to: questions@thoughtperspectives.com to have it answered by: Nathan Comerford, MA, LLPC, NCC.

Nathan M. Comerford is a psychotherapist in Farmington Hills, MI who has been helping people with their relationship issues, emotional difficulties and mental health problems for the past 8 years. 

Thought Perspectives Counseling
31275 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 120
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Phone: (248) 932-7799
www.thoughtperspectives.com>

It may be hard to believe but we are already halfway through the second month of 2009.  The New Year is quickly passing us by.  While some were sad to see 2008 come to an end, many were happy to give it their final farewell in hopes of starting over and making some positive changes in 2009.  An effective way of starting fresh and making some lifestyle changes is by setting and abiding by New Year's resolutions.  It is a great way to commit to the process of making positive change as well as learning to avoid the negative patterns of the previous year.
     For many, improving mental health and quality of life or protecting the sanctity of close relationships needs to be a priority in 2009.  While the economy and the job market are still on a continual decline, the mental health of our nation is declining along side of them.  Increased stress, depression, anxiety, financial problems and relationship strain are just a few prognostications of deteriorating mental health that have recently become evident. 
     There is a significant connection between our mental health and several other important areas of our lives (physical health, financial habits, relationships etc.).  We tend to make better decisions and feel more empowered when we are in a positive state of mind.  On the flip side, we tend to make poor decisions and feel worthless when we are in a negative state of mind.  My own clients demonstrate these trends on a regular basis.  When I assist my clients in overcoming their emotional issues and relationship problems, they start living more satisfying lives.  I have helped people to start weight loss and exercise programs, improve their financial situations by making better decisions with money and feel that their lives have more meaning.  Once I can assist them to eliminate the mental blocks and negative behavioral patterns responsible for their lack of progress, they start to move forward and become happier.
     It is difficult to make progress in any area of life when our mental health is not at an optimum level.  When we are depressed, we do not feel like exercising or taking care of ourselves.  When we are struggling with anxiety, we might make impulsive financial decisions.  Counseling and psychotherapy can help to improve our mental health and our overall well being. 
     Many people are struggling financially which may prevent them from seeking the treatment they need.  Personally, I never want to see financial difficulties hinder the treatment process.  I offer several different options for those who think they cannot afford counseling.  I am willing to work with people in order to help them get effective treatment that they can afford.  I also specialize in helping people to identify and overcome their bad financial habits, to devise a financial plan to achieve their personal goals and to assist them in impulse control.  Many times my clients will complete counseling feeling more financially stable with a greater sense of responsibility. 
     Mental health needs to be taken seriously.  The sooner treatment is initiated, the sooner one can start to improve their life and eliminate emotional distress.

Sincerely,



Nathan M. Comerford, MA, LLPC, NCC
    
     
If you or someone you know needs to speak to someone regarding relationship issues, emotional difficulties or mental health problems, help is a phone call away.  Schedule an appointment today!
Just call (248) 932-7799 to set up an appointment with
Nathan Comerford, MA LLPC NCC.
    
Visit www.thoughtperspectives.com for more information on counseling and psychotherapy!

Visit the "Ask the Counselor" Blog at:www.thoughtperspectives.com/blog

• This is a question and answer blog where Nathan answers questions concerning mental health topics.
•  If you have a question, you can send it to: questions@thoughtperspectives.com to have it answered by: Nathan Comerford, MA, LLPC, NCC.

Nathan M. Comerford is a psychotherapist in Farmington Hills, MI who has been helping people with their relationship issues, emotional difficulties and mental health problems for the past 8 years. 

Thought Perspectives Counseling
31275 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 120
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Phone: (248) 932-7799
www.thoughtperspectives.com