Depression

Rose Park Psychology offers cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) treatment programs for clients with major or mild depression and bipolar disorder. Psychological treatment methods give a high chance of long term and successful results for both anxiety and depression. Our psychologists are specialised clinical psychologists.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) provides a structured approach to therapy and has proven to be effective in the treatment of anxiety and depression. CBT examines how your thinking patterns effect how you feel and behave. You can identify the thoughts and situations that trigger and maintain your emotions – and change them.

Consultations with a psychologist can help you to understand the causes of depression and work though the issues. Often the problem can be addressed through education and the adoption of some simple strategies. In other cases, the emotions can be profound and involve issues of identity, meaning and spirituality. Rose Park psychologists also offer opportunities for reflection, insight and personal growth. Whether you 'fit' the depression diagnosis or not, if you are feeling so down that you need to do something about it, that is enough.

Depression and Low Mood

Depression is a label for a collection of symptoms. Many people are not aware that they are depressed, but you may be depressed if you have some of these symptoms. Depression is rapidly becoming the most common illness in the world.  It can be caused by numerous reasons such as work related stress, pressures in the home and just being too busy.  Relationship problems and loneliness are commonly caused by difficulties in dealing with conflict and having poor social skills. Some of the symptoms associated with low mood include:

• Loss of interest in usual activities and pleasures
• Poor memory
• Unhappiness and low self esteem
• Loneliness and isolation
• Fatigue
• Poor sleep
• Feeling unwell, run and down
• Headaches and backaches
• Poor concentration
• Irritability
• Tearfulness
• Feeling overwhelmed and guiltyconflict with others,
• Withdrawal from close family and friends,
• Increased alcohol consumption,
• Decreased or increased eating

Rose Park Psychologists aim to teach their clients:

• New awareness about their symptoms of depression
• To think positively and set goals
• How to identify negative thinking
• To reduce worrying
• To form closer relationships
• To create support in their lives
• How to find a new balance in life
• The importance of exercise
• How to cope with stress
• How to raise self-esteem

How does therapy actually work? - Breaking the cycle of depression

Therapy for depression works in many ways - emotional support, problem solving, examining and changing thinking styles, checking basic needs are met, looking at behavior, teaching social and other skills and so on...
However, a good way to think about it is to look at the cycle of depression. Good therapy or counseling will break the cycle as quickly as possible, in as many places as possible and give you skills to ensure it stays that way.
Beating clinical depression isn't just about understanding why it's there. Its about you feeling better quickly and having relief from the symptoms of depression.

Types of Depression

Major Depression

Clients with major depression report five or more of the following:

• A depressed or sad mood most of the day, nearly every day
• Loss of interest and pleasure in almost everything. Low motivation.
• Fatigue and exhaustion on waking
• Disrupted sleep, sometimes through upsetting dreams
• Early morning waking and difficulty getting back to sleep - or oversleeping
• Difficulty concentrating during the day
• Improved energy as the day goes on
• Anxious worrying and intrusive upsetting thoughts
• Becoming emotional or upset for no particular reason
• Shortness of temper, or irritability
• Weight loss or weight gain
• psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day
• feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
• diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day
• recurrent thoughts of death

The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Not all people have all of these, and some have different signs, but if you are depressed, at least some of these will probably ring true with you.

Manic Depression or Bipolar Disorder

Manic Depression, otherwise known as Bipolar Disorder, has a much greater biological base than normal clinical depression, although psychological interventions can still be very helpful.
The manic depressive experiences extreme swings from elation and euphoria and acute depression. During the 'manic phase' they may spend recklessly and pursue wild and improbable schemes, sleeping little and often being very productive. At the opposite 'pole', the person appears and feels lethargic, unmotivated and exhausted. In this phase the person may be unrecognizable as the same formally manic individual. The swing may take place daily or after many months at one pole.

Postnatal Depression

Postnatal depression (sometimes called postpartum depression) occurs in the mother in the weeks or months following childbirth. It has long been thought that this is due to hormonal changes within the mother.
However, postnatal depression does not differ in any way to normal clinical depression. It may have more to do with a lack of adaptation to new circumstances or lack of support and social instability.
Pregnant woman who have little faith in their future abilities to provide effective care for their future babies and who feel generally ill-equipped to become mothers are at risk of going on to develop depression after the birth of their child.

Dysthymia

Dysthymia refers to long term low grade depression. You may feel a lack of joie de vivre, low motivation and persistant low mood. It may be hard for you to remember many occassions when you have truely happy.