Depression Treatment Gold Coast 

According to the World Health Organisation depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting 300 million people globally. In any one year in Australia, one million Australian adults will struggle with depressed mood, and 2 million with a range of anxiety problems. Feeling sad is normal and we all feel down from time to time as life throws challenges and difficulties our way. However, Clinical Depression can affect our daily functioning and can interfere with our ability to complete our regular daily tasks. Clinical Depression and Major Depressive Disorder are terms used when a person's symptoms of depression reach a certain threshold and severity.

Read below to learn more about Depression and Depression Treatments or appointments with a psychologist can be booked online here.  

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

The signs and symptoms of Depression can be found below. They may vary slightly from one person to the next, and there can be differences in symptoms between women and men.  

• Depressed most, most of the day, and on most days of the week. 
• Lost interest and/or pleasure in most activities
• Weight loss or weight gain, or appetite loss of appetite gain
• Moving and talking very slowly, or feeling sped up and irritable
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness, poor self-esteem, or inappropriate guilt
• Concentration problems or indecisiveness
• Recurrent thoughts of death, thoughts of suicide, or suicidal behaviours

Diagnoses of Clinical Depression and Major Depressive Disorder indicate more severe symptoms of depression. However, whether a person meets full criteria for major depression or not, if any symptoms of depression are affecting your life, then engaging in therapy for depression is a great way to manage and overcome your concerns. One of the most complicated risks of depression is suicide. When people are depressed they tend to see themselves, the world, their future, and others, in negative and pessimistic ways. This can sometimes lead to thoughts of no longer being alive. If this is the case, seeking immediate support is imperative. 

Click here to take a test of your current levels of psychological distress.

Causes of Depression

There are several factors that can predispose someone to the development of depression, or make it more likely that they may develop depression. Some of these factors include: 

• Females experience depression more frequently than males. 
• Family history of depression. If a first degree relative has suffered from Clinical Depression, then your own chances of developing depression increase. However, most of these people will not go on to develop depression of their own. 
• Childhood adversity. Experiencing trauma, abuse, and volatility during our upbringing increases the risk of developing depression. 
• Stressful Life Events. These events cause psychological strain and can lead to depression. 
• An Anxious Temperament. Having a tendency towards anxiety and negative emotions (neuroticism). 
• Limited social networks and strained relationships. 
• Poor mental health. 
• Limited access to effective treatments. 

Conversely, the factors that can be protective against the development of depression include having sound mental health, developing good support networks and relationships, having positive childhood experiences, an absence of stressful life events, fostering emotional stability and an optimistic outlook on life, and having access to appropriate depression treatments. 

Psychotherapy for Depression: CBT for Depression

There are a variety of available Depression Treatments. Depression treatments can include psychotherapy and CBT for depression, medications, hospitalisation (in severe cases or where risks of harm arise), ECT and TMS therapy. Psychotherapy is often a good place to start in the treatment of depression and is usually provided by a Psychologist or Clinical Psychologist. Psychological treatments for depression are highly effective and evidence based. Most people who engage in psychotherapy for depression will improve over the course of their treatment.

One psychotherapy approach for depression that has been extensively researched is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT. Below are some examples of the core components of CBT and how they may help in the treatment of depression.

Cognitive therapy: People who are depressed tend to hold more negative beliefs about themselves, the world, and the future. The founder of cognitive therapy for depression (Aaron Beck) referred to this as the negative triad. CBT for depression aims to closely monitor and evaluate a person's thinking patterns and beliefs (which may be largely unconscious) and to examine how they may be causing or perpetuating depressed mood. You then work to adjust these thoughts to a more realistic way of thinking. These thoughts are sometimes called 'automatic' thoughts because they often happen outside of our control and awareness, they are quick, and are often initially difficult to identify.

Behavioural activation: Depression leads to low motivation, pessimism regarding the future, low energy, and fatigue. Each of these symptoms make it hard to work towards goal-directed activities. So often, people who are depressed stop engaging in rewarding and meaningful activities. Sometimes their day may be spent in bed. It makes sense that if we're feeling depressed, that we do less. However, this reduces the amount of reward and pleasure that someone experiences on a day-to-day basis, and can further compound depressive symptoms. Gradually supporting someone to engage in an increased number of valued and goal-directed activities, at a pace that they can manage, is another effective strategy that can help improve your mood. 

Mindfulness training: With a barrage of negative thoughts and feelings, mindfulness training can assist to get relief, and distance, from these experiences. While cognitive therapy aims to change or correct negative thinking patterns, mindfulness aims to change a person's relationship with their mind, thoughts, emotions, and their internal experience more generally. Being able to see thoughts as just that, thoughts, that will always pass, are never permanent, and which are just one perspective on reality (i.e. they are not facts), can assist those suffering with depression to better cope and disengage from difficult and uncomfortable experiences. 

Other components of CBT: In addition to the CBT strategies above, a variety of others components can make up the full CBT treatment regime. Other components of psychotherapy for depression can include psychoeducation, assertion and interpersonal training, relaxation training, and behavioural experiments (i.e. testing out our negative predictions). There are also many 'common factors' about talking to a Clinical Psychologist that can lead to positive changes in mood. Having someone who listens, provide guidance and empathy, and can support you in your goals, are also important factors that can help someone to overcome depression. 

We hope this information has helped you to understand your mood or the symptoms that you may be experiencing. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and we'll certain do what we can to be of assistance. 

Dr Mark Bartholomew is a Gold Coast Clinical Psychologist offering psychological treatments for a range of common psychological concerns. MHM Psychology is located in Coomera on the Gold Coast. We can be contacted on 1300 848 072. Appointments can be booked online. 

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