Therapy for Depression in NYC

According to the Mayo Clinic, major depressive disorder--also known as depression or clinical depression--is a mood disorder that leads to persistent loss of interest and feelings of sadness. Depression not only affects the way people behave, think, and feel: it may also potentially lead to a range of physical and emotional issues. It can even, in severe cases, lead to difficulty in completing daily activities, and escalate into feelings that life is not worth living. In some cases, depression may require long term forms of treatment in order to battle it effectively, but it is important to stay positive: most individuals struggling with depression see improvement with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two.

While in some individuals depression may only manifest once in their lifetimes, others tend to experience several depressive episodes over the course of their lives. During such episodes, individuals may experience symptoms on a nearly daily basis. These symptoms could include:

• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Agitation
• Irritability, frustration, or angry outbursts over minor things
• Inexplicable physical issues such as headaches or back pain
• Recurrent or frequent thoughts regarding suicide or death
• Suicide attempts
• Weight loss or reduced appetite
• Weight gain or increased appetite
• Lack of energy, making minor tasks require extra effort
• General tiredness or exhaustion
• Disturbances in one’s sleep patterns, such as over sleeping or insomnia
• Feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, tearfulness, or general sadness
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Increased fixation on past failures
• Self blame
• Slowed body movements, speaking, or thinking
• Difficulty concentrating or thinking
• Difficulty making decisions
• Having a hard time remembering things
• Loss of interest in most (or all) activities one normally performs, such as hobbies, sex, or sports

Many individuals who suffer with depression will experience symptoms that are serious enough to cause noticeable disturbances in their daily lives. Their depression could interfere with their:

• Relationships with loved ones
• Social life
• Performance at work or in school

And many individuals suffering from depression will feel overall unhappy or miserable and not understand why. The Mayo Clinic suggests that you make an appointment with a mental health professional or doctor if you feel depressed. However, if you feel hesitant to seek treatment at this time, it might be helpful to speak with a loved one, friend, a faith leader, or another individual you trust.

Here in New York City, there are many different resources at your disposal. And here at Grouport, we offer online group therapy that can be conducted from the comfort and safety of your own home; this is a useful option for seeking therapy amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Should you choose to enroll in our services, you will have a brief, 20 minute initial consultation with one of our trained mental health professionals. You will then be matched with a therapy group we feel is best suited to your needs. Your therapy group will meet at the same day and time each week for an hour, and you will receive a unique, one time Zoom code 24 hours prior to your weekly appointment. Group therapy has been proven to be effective in the treatment of depression and various other mental illnesses. You may find the answer to FAQs you have here.

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