What Do I Do if I Think I’m Depressed?
When an individual is experiencing symptoms of depression, they may notice how much they are affecting different areas of their life, such as work, school, relationships, or how they take care of, and feel about, themselves. The first part of this awareness is the acknowledgment of what the individual is experiencing and what it is impacting. The next part can be confusing, scary, embarrassing, or anxiety provoking: “What do I do now?”
Oftentimes, individuals reach out to the supports that already exist in their life, such as close friends. If the people the individual goes to for support are understanding and caring, then this helps with overall well-being. Unsure if your social support is positive? CLICK HERE to read my blog Is My Social Support a Good One?
What to Do
Although having good social support is helpful, the first step starts within. An important rule of thumb is to always rule out anything medical. This is can be done upon meeting with a doctor who will ask necessary questions and have the individual complete lab tests. For example, lab results will show thyroid levels and this is an important factor to consider because thyroid disease can affect mood. If it has been a while since the last physical exam, this is a good place to start.
The second component is meeting with a mental health professional. Treatment from a therapist will be in the form of counseling, such as “talk therapy.” A psychiatrist prescribes medication as a form of treatment. A mental health professional will be able to meet with the individual and begin making a formal diagnosis. A therapist and a psychiatrist are trained to make diagnoses. During the first appointment, the mental health professional will obtain the individual’s history, their experience with depression symptoms, and how much it’s impacting the individual’s life. From there, a treatment plan will be created with the individual that will lay out goals that the individual would like, such as working on how negative beliefs about themselves are holding them back from what they would like to achieve in life, or working through challenging past experiences with family members that’s impacted their self-worth, to name a few.
You don’t have to do this alone. If you are interested in receiving therapy with me, let’s schedule a free 15-minute phone consult.
I can provide in person and video therapy. My office is located in Irvine, which is near Newport Beach, Orange, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Tustin, Seal Beach, and beyond. I provide video therapy to individuals who live in California, including Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, at more. I work with OCD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and Asian American & Pacific Islanders.
Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. The topics being discussed are meant as a self-help tool for you own use. It is not psychotherapy or counseling. This information is to be used based on your own judgment. If you need to speak with a professional, you should find one local to you and contact them directly.