Depression is a medical illness that, according to The American Psychiatric Association, impacts your emotional well-being, your behavior, and your thought life. However, depression is treatable. At Grapevine Christian Counseling in Texas, we offer proven treatment options for depression from a faith-based perspective.
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The types of depression vary widely, and they can be coupled with, or symptoms of, other diseases. Enlisting a trained counselor in Grapevine, Texas is a key component of treatment for depression.
To pinpoint the kind of depression you have, your counselor at Grapevine Christian Counseling in Texas may look for specific symptoms. These may include the following:
- Continual feelings and beliefs that you are worthless and/or guilty or ashamed
- Depression that is characterized by weight gain, increased appetite, the inability to be cheered up by positive events, a huge need for extra sleep, and excessive sensitivity to rejection
- Restlessness, anxiety, and worry about events that could happen or events that are beyond your control
- Disinterest in previous hobbies, difficulty thinking and concentrating, sluggishness, and slow to make decisions
Other possibilities that your counselor may note are your geographical location and how much daily sunlight you receive, your season of life and any stresses you face, whether you are pregnant or had a baby recently, mental health conditions, and your family’s medical history.
He or she may also look at the circumstances of your current season, for example, if you have recently undergone the loss of a family member or close friend. Some symptoms that may appear to be depression could be related to other causes such as grief. Getting help from a trained, trusted counselor is a wise first step to take.
While not every person has a similar treatment plan, some patients who have experienced healing from depression have found these treatments to be helpful.
1) Seeking out a counselor to guide you. A trained counselor can help you discern if what you are experiencing is related to depression, and if so, what type. A counselor can also give you practical coping tools, the ability to recognize triggers or lifestyle factors that are making the depressive symptoms worse and help you envision your life without depression weighing you down.
2) Relaxation techniques. Some people who suffer from depressive symptoms benefit greatly from activities such as gentle exercise, walking, yoga, or mindfulness work. Participating in artistic endeavors, listening to music, or being in nature may also help.
3) Medication. There are a variety of medications that a licensed psychologist can prescribe for depression.
The most effective treatments are often a combination of all three of these because they allow a patient to take part in new ways of thinking or believing, they help patients see where their boundaries may need to be realigned, and they provide an empowering message that transforms a person’s inner expectations.
A person who undergoes counseling for depression can expect to complete a questionnaire and medical paperwork before seeing a trained counselor at Grapevine Christian Counseling. These are tools that your counselor will use to help discern a specific pathway toward healing that is individualized for each patient’s care.
Next, your counselor at Grapevine Christian Counseling will meet with you to discuss your feelings and lifestyle. This is a simple conversation to help your counselor see what’s working and what’s not working currently. It can also be used as a benchmark upon which future feelings and breakthroughs can be measured as you experience healing.
Finally, your counselor will give you an expected timeline for treatment, the types of therapy that may work best, and whether medication is recommended.
Patients who seek out the help of licensed Christian counselors in Grapevine, Texas may be encouraged to learn that over half of those who have depressive symptoms seek treatment from counseling. Of those, an estimated 80-90% do find that counseling helps.
Seeing a Christian counselor in Grapevine, Texas for the symptoms you are experiencing is a great starting point. Whether patients continue with the counseling may depend on the severity of their depression. Very often, the counselors at Grapevine Christian Counseling are sought to help people with mild or moderate levels of depression.
A person who experiences more severe forms of depression may, at some point, need to be referred to a psychologist who can work with him or her long-term. The psychologist may also prescribe medication as needed.
Patients will know that counseling or therapy with a psychologist helps their depression when they:
- Can function in everyday life without the overwhelming emotions or negative thoughts that once plagued them and interrupted daily life.
- Can experience positive emotions such as joy and happiness.
- Learn how to acknowledge negative thought patterns, mindsets, behaviors, or unhealthy coping mechanisms and reframe them.
- Remember that they once suffered from the depressive symptoms most or all of the time and that now, they occur sporadically or very infrequently.
If you or someone you love is suffering from depressive symptoms, contact Grapevine Christian Counseling to find a counselor who can help. Call our office today to begin your journey toward healing and hope.
Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
(469) 333-6163