Depression

Working together on outcomes.

What it is and How DFS can help.

Depression is a common but potentially serious mood disorder that has an adverse effect on an individual’s everyday life. It may be ever-present, or it may be cyclical but it can cause severe symptoms that have repercussions on how a person feels and thinks. Feelings of helplessness or a lack of motivation have far-reaching ramifications for handling daily activities, including sleeping, eating, working and interacting with other people.

A combination of therapeutic approaches can often help to alleviate depression signs and symptoms. If you feel that depression may be a cause for your lack of motivation and general mood, our team provides a range of techniques and psychological behavioural therapies tailor-made to engender the most positive results and allow you to enjoy life to the full again.

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What are some Symptoms of Depression?

One in seven Australians will experience depression in their lifetime, and the condition is the third highest in terms of impact on finances, morbidity and mortality.

Depression signs and symptoms vary from mild to severe and psychologists use a range of specific questions to help them form a diagnosis. However, answering “yes” to these questions typically suggests a degree of mood instability that would benefit from professional help.

• Are you feeling sad, down-in-the-dumps or blue?

• Have you been feeling this way for a month or longer?

• Are you losing interest or don’t enjoy the things you used to find interesting and pleasurable?

Generally, depressive behaviours include:

Feelings of sadness or depression

Loss of pleasure or interest in activities you previously enjoyed

Unexplained weight loss or gain; changes in appetite

Sleeping problems—either too much or not enough

Increased tiredness and a loss of energy

Feeling worthless or guilty

Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions

Increase in purposeless physical activity, such as pacing, handwringing and fidgeting, or slowed speech or movements that are noticeable to others

Thoughts of suicide or death

What is the Cause of Depression?

Cause of Depression?

The diagnosis of Depression is not the same as feelings of sadness, although it is quite common for people to say they are depressed when they are experiencing temporary feelings of sadness. Sad people do not tend to experience a decrease in their self-esteem or feel worthless or undeserving, which are common features of Depression.

There is no single cause of depressive disorders. There are many different triggers and may be caused by a variety of reasons. A bereavement, divorce or other upsetting life event, including redundancy or money worries, could be a trigger for some people.

More likely, a combination of environmental, psychological, biological and genetic factors may increase the likelihood of developing a depressive disorder, including:

Abuse—emotional, physical or sexual abuse
Age—elderly people, especially those living alone or lacking social support
Conflict—personal conflicts with friends or family
Death—loss of a loved one
Gender—women are twice as likely as men to become depressed. Although no-one knows why, it may be due to fluctuating hormones
Genes—a family history may play a part
Medications—certain medications can contribute to depression, including isotretinoin used to treat acne, and corticosteroids.
Serious illness—Depression sometimes accompanies illness or is triggered by a medical condition
Substance abuse—drug or alcohol abuse often goes hand-in-hand with Depression, and while drugs may offer temporary relief, in the long term they aggravate the disorder.

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How is Depression Treated?

A thorough assessment through counselling is required to qualify the severity of any mood disorder. Direct Focus Solutions can help with a combination of multidisciplinary techniques. For mild to moderate cases, counselling interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance commitment therapy (ACT) with mindfulness and motivational interviewing with psychodynamic psychotherapy are helpful.

Our home-based “mood shifters” program is also beneficial and incorporates movement, nutrition, sleep hygiene, music therapy, ionized air and a multitude of mindful activities.

Severe depression typically requires a combination of medication and cognitive behavioural therapies. Professionals agree that using a “combination approach” or mixture of the two generates the most positive results.

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Get in Touch

Our services offer tailor-made solutions for people suffering with depression. If you or someone you care for has signs or symptoms, don’t bottle it up. Get in touch and schedule an appointment at one of our offices in Sydney or Wollongong – or you can book a virtual appointment and contact us through our Telehealth service.

Your journey to better mental health starts with a phone call to us today.

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OTHER WAYS WE CAN HELP YOU