You’re feeling low. Somedays, it’s hard to get out of bed because you have no energy or motivation. You try to get going and do the things you need to do, but you can’t. Then, you get angry at yourself. That just makes you feel worse.

So, you withdraw more. You get texts and calls and you ignore them. Someone invites you out, and you find a reason not to go. After a while, you end up spending more and more time alone. You’re alone with your thoughts, the wrongs that happened, and the things that frustrate you. When you’re by yourself you become angry with yourself. Life feels unfair.

You know you’ve been through a lot in your life, even as a kid. You know you should be able to handle this, but it seems to be getting harder. And, trying to do it alone isn’t working anymore.

What Causes Depression?

Often, the onset of depression can be traced back to past negative experiences, but not all the time. Depression often occurs when someone has significant past negative experiences. In childhood or adulthood, being emotionally abused, physically abused, or neglected can cause depression. In fact, any significant negative experience or trauma can lead to depression in some people.

The family you’re raised in is one of the most significant influences on your outlook on life. Families that have a more pessimistic view of the world can contribute to depression later in life. Also, there are genetic factors the reveal some vulnerability to depression within family groups. Another source of depression is hardship. Experiencing adversity without adequate social supports can make you feel helpless and alone in the face of difficulties.

Common Types of Depression

Person faces away from camera as they sit on a bench. They are in a raincoat, and are looking out into the dense wall of fog in front of them. They are dealing with depression symptoms, and feel isolated from friends and family. My Winnipeg Therapist offers counselling for depression in Winnipeg. Contact our therapists today for support with trust issues, self-critical tendencies, and more.

People vary in how they are impacted by depression. People can experience mild to severe symptoms. Those symptoms can last for a short time or an extended period. Here are the main types of depression.

Major Depression

Major Depression is also called Clinical Depression or Major Depressive Disorder. This type can happen to anyone and any age. It’s debilitating, impacting someone’s ability to do even the most basic daily activities. This isn’t just ‘a mood’. There are strong feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. The sufferer’s view of who they are is dominated by guilt, self-blame, and shame. Notably, there can also be thoughts of suicide.

The person can feel lonely and disconnected from other people. Yet, have little interest in being around others. And they can find being around others too stressful or exhausting. Thus, they self-isolate as a way to cope. Sufferers can feel sad and tearful or agitated and angry. They can be easily annoyed and frustrated with small problems. Similarly, they can be completely discouraged by minor challenges. In fact, some individuals struggle with anxiety or become completely impassive. Clinical depression disrupts sleep. Some sufferers oversleep while others have difficulty sleeping at all. Due to the lack of energy, even small tasks can seem exhausting.

And, this illness disrupts appetite. Some people experience a complete loss of appetite, while others have cravings for specific foods, like junk food. There’s a loss of interest in things and an inability to experience joy or pleasure. Brain activity slows, making concentration and focus difficult—the ability to retain information and remember things decreases. As difficult as this type of depression can be, the latest research shows that the most effective treatment for clinical depression is anti-depressant medication combined with counselling.

Seasonal Depression

Seasonal Depression which is also referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD occurs seasonally. In the northern countries, this begins with the coming of winter and the decrease in hours of sunlight, increased cold weather, and a decrease in outdoor social activities.

Sufferers can notice a decrease in mood starting in the fall. For some, the symptoms deepen in winter. And with the coming of spring and an increase in daylight hours, SAD symptoms subside.

Symptoms are similar to persistent depression, but symptoms vary from person to person. From low energy, poor sleep, and irritability to more severe symptoms of SAD consistent with clinical depression.

Light therapy, with lights that reproduce the blue-white spectrum of light that mimics the sun-lit sky, along with medication and psychotherapy is an effective treatment.

With Bipolar Disorder, the person experiences ‘highs’ and ‘lows’. There are periods of depression, periods of mania, and periods of relative normalcy. The lows are similar the those for clinical depression. However, symptoms of depression vary from mild, moderate to severe.

The highs, or manic episodes, like the lows, show a range of intensity from mild, moderate to severe. A manic episode is usually followed by an episode of depression. If the manic episode is extreme, it’s likely the episode will also be severe. This could lean towards clinical depression.

The Influence of Social Media on Depression

The online world and social media play a role in increasing depression, especially among younger people. As humans, we are hardwired to connect with others. Social media creates an artificial sense of connecting, but without the real connection that our minds and bodies receive through the five senses.

Electronic communication can’t provide the sensory experiences we experience when being with someone. The sense of connection is virtual—artificial. As much as we enjoy the ease and instantness of online interactions they are, and can only be, superficial and inadequate to provide the fullness of human connection that is needed to maintain good mental health.

At the same time, spending large amounts of time on social media robs people of the time they could be connecting with people in real-time. And, the more someone engages with social media, the more they decrease real-time engagement with others. What’s more, social media as a medium exhibits an unrealistic presentation of other people. Seeing the ‘best self’ of others can create a sense of inadequacy in others who are constantly consuming the best of other’s lives.

Begin Counselling for Depression in Winnipeg

Counselling for depression can teach you how to identify those early negative thoughts that feed it. By working with a therapist, you can learn how to let them go. You can work with me at my Winnipeg based counselling service. It’s normal for anyone to experience some of these feelings on occasion. But, if you have any of these symptoms for an extended period of time and they’re interfering with you living your life— you may need to seek help from a qualified therapist. I can help you anywhere in the area with online counselling in Winnipeg. You can get started today by following these simple steps:

1. Contact us to schedule an appointment
2. Meet with a caring, depression therapist
3. Start therapy, and begin feeling like yourself again

Other Services Offered at My Winnipeg Therapist

In addition to counselling for depression, My Winnipeg Therapist also offers a variety of mental health services. Our therapists offer specialized counselling for men and male youth, relationship counselling, marriage counselling, anxiety treatment, PTSD treatment and trauma counselling, and low self-esteem counselling. Contact our Winnipeg counselling clinic today to get the help you need to move forward with confidence.