Depression Therapy in Brea, CA

Do you find yourself feeling sad or lonely?

Do you not feel like yourself?
Are you having trouble sleeping?
Are you isolating yourself from friends and family?
Do you feel irritated or short tempered?
Do you lack motivation or feel bad about yourself?

If so, you may be experiencing symptoms of depression

Depression is a mood disorder that can permeate every aspect of your life. It can affect your work, school, and home life. It impacts your relationships with others and your relationship with yourself. It can be very difficult just to get out of bed in the morning when you are depressed.

Often, with depression, you cannot get a good night’s sleep because there is a high correlation between depression and insomnia. Financial and relational stressors can have you spiraling and feeling defeated, often just before bedtime. This makes it so difficult to function throughout the day. You may have noticed that you are losing ground at work and your relationships are suffering.

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Every day feels gloomy

With depression, you may also be having thoughts of suicide, self-harm, or recurrent thoughts of death. You may be experiencing anhedonia or a lack of pleasure in daily life. Everything seems blah, and the things that used to bring you joy or excite you are no longer interesting.

You may be plagued with a persistent sense of sadness and cry easily for seemingly no reason. Your frustration tolerance is lower, and you may be easily annoyed at others which impacts your interpersonal relationships.

Even if it doesn’t feel like it, there is hope. Talking with a therapist skilled in treating depression can help alleviate your suffering.

In the midst of a loneliness epidemic, depression can feel especially isolating

Approximately one in six people will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime. We also know that women are 50% more likely than men to suffer from depression. This may be due to the hormonal shifts women experience or the caregiving role they tend to play throughout their lifespan. You may also have a genetic predisposition to depression but environmental triggers are usually necessary to activate it.

Speaking of environmental triggers, our modern society can be a significant cause of loneliness. Sustained social disconnection is strongly correlated with higher rates of depression. Our digital habits of passive scrolling and screen time are replacing meaningful connection. We have also lost our “third spaces” where people in the community would gather, and remote work has decreased spontaneous daily social encounters.

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Sad and frequently blue

There’s a reason Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh is such a beloved and relatable character. We have all had bouts of pessimism, low self-esteem, and resigned acceptance of our circumstances. But when those feelings persist for months or years without relief, it can make you question your worth or your future. It can flatten your affect, deplete your energy, severely lower your motivation, and leave you with a persistent feeling of guilt.

Unlike the characters in Winnie the Pooh, you may not have found your tribe or village. You may long to be able to say like Eeyore, “thanks for noticing me.” You may relate more to Sadness from Inside Out as a burden being dragged along sobbing by Joy. We live in a time that glorifies busyness, prizes hustle culture, and expects individuals to be able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. No wonder you feel so invisible.

Even though our society is more disconnected than ever, you can feel heard and supported in the midst of your depression by an experienced depression therapist.

I’d look on the bright side, if I could find it

Maybe this has become your new normal. You may feel like Eeyore and say to yourself “if it’s a good morning, which I doubt” or feel like the length of your depression has been “days, weeks, months, who knows?” There is no ability to pull yourself out of the pit of despair. The great news is you don’t have to. We can find the rays of sunshine again together.

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Depression therapy can help the clouds clear

A safe place to talk about these feelings is very important, and I have over 25 years of experience in dealing with depression and suicidality. Through our work together, we can talk about your fears and concerns. I can help share the burden and listen nonjudgmentally while we develop strategies to deal with your pain.

I work from a psychodynamic depth perspective but also incorporate DBT skills training and attachment theory. My hope is that you will leave each session a bit lighter after pouring your heart out. The time between sessions will not feel as heavy. You won’t feel guilty for not doing more or ashamed for your current state. You will feel joy again and life will slowly be recreated in ways that give your life meaning and purpose.

My immersive experience with depression

Despite treating depression for over 25 years, I have been no stranger to depression at different times in my life. I am prone to melancholy and languishing which can be sensitive to loss. And, I often wallow in the what could have beens. There is a long line of genetic predisposition of depression in my family. As a child, I couldn’t understand why my grandmother would cry all the time and had trouble caring for herself.

Just like my father did not know how to help his mother, nor was there anyone to help me with my own depression. Therapy and making sense of my own life story have helped tremendously. I also exercise religiously and spend time in nature as much as possible to help me take care of my own mental health. I have dedicated my life to help others unburden themselves and give words to their sorrow.