Depression

It’s common to feel on occasion “blue”, “sad” or even a couple days of feeling “low” in mood. Sometimes these feelings can persist longer than a couple of days that begin to interfere with day to day functioning. Symptoms of depression can affect the way we think, feel and behave towards ourselves and others. This can manifest in emotional, physical and behavioural problems. This can lead to challenges with energy, motivation, even struggles in completing day to day tasks such as eating, and hygiene. Further, we may have thoughts that life is not worth living which can be both scary and worrisome. If you’re finding your mood is not lifting or concerned that you’re not feeling yourself after some time, you may need to seek treatment. You may have already been diagnosed with a depressive disorder and are seeking help in treating it. 

 

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a gold standard treatment for depression. Research shows that CBT is as effective as medication or can be used as a stand-alone treatment. CBT has been recommended as an adjunct therapy with medication for maximum benefits.

 

CBT is a short-term therapy with people observing marked improvement in just a few sessions. The overall goal is to improve symptoms by helping you develop more balanced thoughts about yourself, others, and the world. You will learn how to develop goals and problem-solving skills that will increase motivation to engage with daily living. A course of CBT can range anywhere from 6-20 sessions.