Understanding Depression

    
Are you depressed? 
Depression affects thousands of people in the United States causing havoc to both their personal relationships and professional life. This is a complex condition that often needs multiple treatment modalities. Some effective ones are: cognitive therapy (changing destructive self-talk), learning new coping techniques, exploring childhood issues, spiritual growth and medication.
    

What are the symptoms?

People who are clinically depressed have a combination of symptoms, including the following:
       Feelings of hopelessness.
       Fatigue or low energy
       Reduced interest or pleasure in your activities
       Low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness
       Feeling old or unattractive
       Excessive or inappropriate guilt
       Difficulty in thinking or concentrating
       Difficulty in making decisions
       Distorted or unrealistic thinking
       Appetite changes with weight gain or loss
       Changes in sleeping patterns
       Suicidal thoughts or thoughts of death
If three or more of these symptoms are present, this is an indication that a person is depressed.

When is professional treatment needed?

Seek professional help if you or a family member has:
       Symptoms that last for a long time.
       Difficulty in daily functioning
       Tendencies to isolate from others
       Persistent thoughts of death or suicide

When is medication helpful?

Medication can be a helpful aid for the recovery of depression. A physician will often recommend medication to a depressed individual This can help lift the person’s affect, enable them to function better and aid them in taking the necessary steps needed to work on good mental health.

Learning new coping skills

  Learn to manage stress.
  Learn to self-soothe yourself using techniques to calm yourself.
  Learn problem-solving skills. 
  Build your life around things you can control.
  Focus on those things you can change and accept those you can’t.
  Focus on the future and not the past

   E-mail me: susangarlandmft@verizon.net 
    Visit my website: www.susangarland.net 

Choose Happiness

 

Happy? Seven choices to make!

Be loving and kind to those around you.
Accept what you can't change.
Find joy in the little things. Laugh easily!
Let go of the resentments you carry.
Learn to forgive others - - - quickly. 
Be thankful.  Want what you already have.
Seek God with all your heart.

                                      Susan Garland, Psy.D.
                                          (714) 965-2040
                         Individual, Couples and Family Therapy

    Visit my website www.susangarland.net

Choices . . . OpenYourself Up

Open Yourself Up

Quality of life is often determined by the choices you make. Choose to open yourself up to a richer quality of life by making better choices. Choosing to open yourself up in the following ways will help you begin the process:

Open yourself up to more loving and kind to those around you and let go of your impatience with the little things in life that don't really matter.

Open yourself up to accepting  things in your relationships that you can't change and let go of any unrealistic expectations you may have. 

Open yourself up to finding joy in the little things of life which are all around you and let go of your disappointment in not have what you think you need and want.

Open yourself up to forgiving those who have hurt or disappointed you in the past and let go of the resentment and anger that is so heavy and robbing you of today.

Open yourself up to seeing the abundance in your life and be thankful for it and let go of the anguish you feel over all your losses and failures. 

Open yourself up to seeking God and experience the spiritual side of yourself and let go of striving for things that don't really satisfy. 

Of course, the big question is, "How can I?" 
Spend some time thinking about each suggestion and develop some strategies, starting in small ways. Call me for an appointment and I can help you with the process. 714 965 2040.