Almost every neighborhood in NYC has a psychotherapist or psychologist’s office. The epicenter of finance and culture is also the epicenter of depression. Research by the New York City Department of Health shows that one in five city residents suffers from either depression or a similar problem. Depression is much more than just feeling sad. It is an illness that lasts for weeks, months, or even years. Maria Kourounis, a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker, serves clients in Queens and NYC in general. Read more about one of the most common diseases in the world and ways to combat it, recommended by the specialist, on queenska.com.
What is depression?
Depression is an affective mental disorder characterized by a decrease in mood, activity and will. It is not a manifestation of weakness, but a real disease. Patients with depression feel depressed for a long time (at least 2 weeks), lose interest in activities that used to bring pleasure and have difficulty doing everyday activities. Other symptoms include the inability to feel joy, decreased vitality, anxiety, drowsiness or insomnia, low concentration, loss of appetite, feelings of guilt or despair, etc.
Depression changes the way we interact with the world around us, affecting literally everything from our outlook to our relationships with people to our daily routines. Depending on the number of symptoms, there are different degrees of depression: mild, moderate and severe. A person with mild depression has some difficulties performing everyday tasks, but they have little or no effect on their overall functioning. In the case of severe depression, a person cannot cope with both daily household chores and social functions.
Depression can be episodic, chronic and relapsing (especially if left untreated). It can also occur as part of bipolar disorder: in this case, depressive and manic phases alternate with periods of completely normal life.
Depression can be caused by social, psychological, or biological factors. It is often triggered by negative and stressful events, such as job loss, death of a loved one, or psychological trauma. Physical health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, can also contribute to depression.
Ways to overcome
A mild form of depression can be treated without medication, using certain psychotherapeutic methods. Maria Kourounis recommends the following ways to fight depression:
- Self-help. Although it can be difficult, one of the most important things to do when you are depressed is to make yourself a priority. Loving yourself and your body is a key component to keeping your “internal engine” running smoothly. Exercise regularly, eat right, get plenty of rest, sunbathe and learn to say no.
- Create a support network. Depressed people tend to isolate themselves from society. Although some alone time is helpful, social contact is important for restoring psycho-emotional well-being. Meeting new people can help to revive a sense of hope that may have been missing in your life.
- Psychotherapy. For people who are interested in holistic treatment of depression that does not involve medication, there is a wide range of therapeutic options. The main ones are:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (focused on combating negative thoughts and behavioral patterns)
- Strengths-based therapy (the therapist works with the client to understand their unique strengths and resources to use them to combat depression)
- psychodynamic therapy (studies the influence of life experience on the formation of depressive states and helps to understand and change subconscious beliefs that cause depression)
- Trauma-focused therapy (past trauma often contributes to the development of depression. This therapy helps clients heal their emotional wounds).
“Smiling” depression
High-functioning depression often goes unrecognized and undetected. Unlike classical depression, it does not manifest itself in phases of decline and rise, but is a continuous state. People who suffer from this type of depression sometimes feel joyful and, in the opinion of others, lead a completely normal life. Since this illness is hidden behind a cheerful smile, it is sometimes called “smiling” depression. However, the smile is just a mask that allows you to hide your depressed state.
If the disease is not recognized in time, people feel worse and worse over time. Its symptoms include lack of energy and strength, difficulty concentrating and performing routine tasks, criticizing oneself or others, lack of self-confidence, lethargy, a feeling of inner emptiness, inability to relax, dissatisfaction with one’s situation, reflections on the meaning of life with disappointing conclusions, expectations of the worst and perfectionism.
Regarding the latter, this symptom is especially characteristic of residents of cities with a large number of emigrants, such as New York. People come to the metropolis to work in elite law firms, advertising agencies, to discover their artistic talent, etc. When perfectionists do not achieve their professional or personal goals, they feel like failures on a holistic level.
According to Maria Kourounis, high-functioning depression is difficult to recognize: a person functions relatively well, but at the same time constantly feels sad and exhausted for 2 or more years. The disorder can be triggered by the death of a loved one, job loss, or a change in relationships. The predisposition to such depression is even laid down by genes. It can also be a side effect of certain medications or an imbalance in brain chemistry.
The therapist says that such people can work well, but they constantly feel exhausted. They get along with people but keep an emotional distance. Due to the restraint of emotions, somatic symptoms often manifest themselves, such as headaches, digestive problems, acne, low sexual desire, etc. Patients with high-functioning depression “treat” their condition with drugs and alcohol and abuse carbohydrates and sugar to increase serotonin levels.
Interestingly, patients with such depression are often obsessed with showing others on social media how “perfect” their lives are. They are afraid of appearing weak, which is why they rarely ask for help. Such people fake a smile even when there is really room for sadness: war, emigration, divorce, loss of property or work, etc.
How to deal with it?
As already mentioned, symptoms of high-functioning depression can worsen without treatment. “Smiling” depression has too many costly consequences to ignore: health problems, lack of close, trusting relationships, loss of taste for life, lack of future prospects, addiction to alcohol, drugs, or gambling, workaholism, etc.
Kourounis advises focusing on self-care, emphasizing a balanced diet, adequate sleep and exercise. If the illness prevents you from building relationships with people, greatly interferes with professional tasks, etc., you should see a psychotherapist. The specialist keeps everything said by the client in confidence, prepares them to solve the most difficult life issues and develops effective skills to deal with depression.