Depression Counseling & Treatment
Depression can affect how you feel, think, behave, and connect with the people and activities that matter to you. For some people, depression involves persistent sadness or hopelessness. For others, it may show up as low motivation, irritability, emotional numbness, fatigue, changes in sleep or appetite, or losing interest in things they once enjoyed.
What Is Depression?
Clinically, depression involves a pattern of emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioral changes that can significantly affect a person's daily functioning. Symptoms may include depressed mood, reduced interest or pleasure, changes in sleep or appetite, low energy, difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and thoughts related to death or suicide.
In everyday terms, depression can make life feel harder to participate in. Things that once felt rewarding may no longer seem interesting, everyday responsibilities can require much more effort, and connecting with other people may feel difficult. Depression is not simply having a bad day or going through a temporary period of sadness; it can persist and interfere with important parts of life.
Depression can look different from person to person. Some people become withdrawn and quiet, while others may appear irritable, exhausted, or overwhelmed. A person can also experience depression without feeling sad all the time. It is possible to experience depression and not show outward signs.
Persistent sadness or emptiness
Losing interest in activities they once enjoyed
Low motivation or difficulty getting started
Feeling tired or lacking energy
Sleeping much more or much less than usual
Changes in appetite or eating habits
What Can Depression Feel Like?
People seeking depression counseling may describe experiences such as:
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Feeling worthless, guilty, or like a burden
Irritability or increased frustration
Pulling away from friends, family, or other sources of support
Feeling hopeless about the future
Depression Counseling in Maryland
Dagenhart Health and Wellness provides counseling and medication management for depression and related mental health concerns. Treatment can focus on understanding factors that may be contributing to depression, developing practical coping strategies, rebuilding meaningful routines and activities, improving emotional regulation, and addressing patterns of thinking or behavior that may be keeping you stuck.
If sadness, hopelessness, low motivation, isolation, or loss of interest is interfering with your relationships, work, school, sleep, or ability to enjoy your life, depression counseling may be able to help.