Chandni “Chunnu” Bhatia, MS, LPC, NCC, CMHIMP, is a licensed clinical professional counselor, she serves as an Integrated Behavioral Health Therapist with Inova Behavioral Health Services.
When we think of the word “depression,” often times many of us get a certain picture in our minds of an individual closed off from the world in a dark room, unkempt and unable to stop crying. While depression may occasionally look like this for some people, the reality is much more complex and nuanced. In honor of National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month in October, we’re shining a light on some common, yet surprising, signs and symptoms of depression and how to know when it’s time to talk to your primary care provider or mental health professional.
The stereotype outlined above does not reflect the way many people experience depression. On the contrary, a person can be experiencing immense inner turmoil and still be taking care of hygiene, going to work, and managing responsibilities to family and others.
While depression may include feelings of deepening sadness, it is different than feeling sad or down. Depression can ebb and flow. For most people, it can also be a longer-term and persistent experience. Sadness, on the other hand, is transient. Depression is also not laziness or weakness. Many people struggling with depression have the will to take action, but changes in the body’s chemistry, experience of trauma and loss, or even excess stress can leave an individual physically incapable of functioning.
Depression is often experienced as a sense of “emotional collapse” – a void or even a heaviness that can be difficult to shake. Individuals struggling with depression may be going through the motions of their daily lives while feeling flat inside.
If you recognize some of these signs or symptoms are negatively impacting your daily life, relationships or sense of wellbeing, there are several resources available to help support you to get relief. Your primary care provider, a psychiatrist and a mental health therapist are all great places to start getting the support you need to feel well. Here are some tips to guide the conversation:
It takes time, but it’s worth it. Working with a doctor or mental health provider can support you into living a more fulfilling and engaging life.
Resource: Mental Health National Depression Screening Day
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Learn more about Inova Behavioral Health Services or about our Inova adult mental health inpatient services specifically.
If you do not have a primary care provider, we welcome you to make an appointment with a provider at any of our Inova Primary Care locations.
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