October is Depression & Mental Health Awareness Month
Thoughts From Your Therapist Palm Desert
Depression and Mental Health Awareness Month
As a therapist in Palm Desert, I have seen firsthand the importance of universal screening for mental health issues. In the United States, October is Depression and Mental Health Awareness Month in order to raise awareness about depression, the importance of screening, and of mental health issues in order to reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help when needed. According to the World Health Organization, about 300 million people worldwide suffer from various depression disorders.
Depression is Complex
Depression is a serious mental health condition, and it's important to understand that depression is a complex condition with various contributing factors. Depression can be defined as a mental illness in which one experiences any of the following symptoms:
prolonged feelings of sadness,
numbness,
excessive guilt,
irritability,
loss of interest/pleasure in activities,
hopelessness,
insomnia,
oversleeping,
changes in weight or appetite and/or having very low energy levels.
Oversleeping, exhaustion and not feeling rested at wake up can be a sign of depression
I Don’t Feel Sad…
In short, depression isn’t simply about “being sad,” which is a common misconception. Depression can be caused by a variety of factors, including trauma, severely stressful life events, abuse or a chemical imbalance in the brain. It is extremely important to keep having conversations about depression and mental health in general in order to erase the stigmas that have been around for generations and often prevent people from reaching out to get the help they need. These conversations will also make it so that mental health is considered a priority in workplace settings, the medical field and society in general. There are still people who consider mental illnesses to be “all in your head,” that you “should be able to get over this with lifestyle changes,” or that “you’re making it all up for attention,” and that is never the case. Individuals facing any form of mental health challenge are not fabricating their experiences; they genuinely wish they could simply switch off their thoughts to make it all disappear.
It may take months or even years to find the best treatment plan for some mental health illnesses, and it can feel frustrating to invest the time needed to find the right form of therapy or medication. Knowing that there are resources and support available, such as therapists, support groups, counseling centers, community mental health services, can make a significant difference.
There is no shame in needing to take medication for depression. From a biopsychosocial perspective, your biology may benefit from medication to help balance your brain. A doctor once told me early in my social work training, “people don’t go to therapy or counseling to treat epilepsy, which is another chemical imbalance in the brain. They too, take medication to make their quality of life better and to balance out their brain chemicals. Why should the treatment of depression be any different?” This blog discusses anti-depressants as one form of treatment for depression.
If you are struggling with depression or mental health in any way, please know that you are never alone in your journey. There are infinite support systems, resources, treatment plans, medications and people who care about you and who want to support you in your journey. The road ahead might seem daunting and scary, but hope and help are both available to you.
Continuing to have open conversations and providing information about mental health is a vital step towards creating a more understanding and supportive society for individuals dealing with depression and other mental health conditions.
For additional information about Depression and Mental Health Awareness Month, check out these resources:
Lauren Fox, LCSW, PMH-C supports the mental health of women and their families.
I hope this post about October being Depression and World Mental Health Month was helpful for you. If you are looking for more clarification as to why it’s important to address mental health concerns, reach out to me! We can schedule a 15 minute phone consultation to discuss what is happening for you and explore if more individualized mental health support could be beneficial for you. I would be happy to help get you connected. Feel free to call me at 805-930-9355 for a free 15 minute phone consultation. If you are looking for help with pregnancy, postpartum, pregnancy loss, infertility, birth trauma, hypnotherapy, or new mothers support groups, you can read more about how I can help within this website.
Serving the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas, including: Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Thousand Palms, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio, Bermuda Dunes, Coachella, Thermal, Mecca, Desert Hot Springs, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and virtually across the state of California.
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