Leslie Garcia Leslie Garcia

When Your Depression Needs a Session

Mental Illness is finally receiving attention and respect, but it took severe consequences to make many realize the seriousness of mental health conditions. Ultimately, all untreated mental health conditions not only hurt you physically and mentally but also have damaging effects on your business bottom line and personal finances! We explain more in our latest blog post.

Mental illness is finally receiving attention and respect, but it took severe consequences to make many realize the seriousness of mental health conditions. For one, depression, one of the top causes of disability in our country, should no longer be viewed as just sadness.  

Here are some other facts about depression:

Still, depression is overlooked and viewed as a normal phase in life. It is left untreated with the belief that it will get better over time. But the consequences of this approach are too hard to ignore.

Depression impairs memory due to a part of the brain shrinking. Untreated depression costs approximately 1 trillion in lost productivity annually. Ultimately, all untreated mental health conditions do not only hurt you physically and mentally, but also have damaging effects on your finances!

 Worried that you won’t be able to tell the difference between depression and sadness?

 Here are some of the symptoms of depression:

  •  Changes in appetite

  • Constant sadness and/or crying

  • Isolating from friends/family

If this sounds like you, or someone you know, and you know that something isn’t right  — you are not alone and there’s help available.

Now that you understand a little more about the dangers of ignoring your mental health, you can start your journey to recovery by contacting us and scheduling a FREE CONSULTATION to discuss how best we can support you. 

At Counseling Space, we work with business owners who are ready to tackle the mental stress that is interfering with their success. We are known to offer therapy for business owners and mental health consulting for businesses. To create a nurturing, no-judgment setting is a priority for us because we are aware that you need to be safe when expressing the thoughts and feelings you have been holding on to for years. 

By signing up for treatment, you’d be joining a growing list of brave souls initiating their journeys to balanced mental health. Today, celebrities like Kerry Washington, Halle Berry, Jay-Z and others are raising awareness of mental health and the importance of treatment.  

This week is the start of Mental Illness Awareness Week and we are increasing the number of our free consultations by 50% because we know that many people are ready to reach out, and don’t want to end or start the New Year still feeling depressed.  

To get your free consultation and determine how we can best support you, all you have to do is click the button HERE.

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Leslie Garcia Leslie Garcia

Do You Know If You Are Depressed?

At this time of year, the “blahs” and boredom can be quite normal and to be expected. However, there may be more to it than you might think!

Want to know if you are stressed or depressed? Take this risk-free Patient Health Questionnaire.

I don’t know about you but these recent cold and gray days can make it challenging to find the will to GET UP, GET OUT, or GET BY. The fuss over romance and love partners around Valentine’s Day may also leave those who don’t celebrate or aren’t paired reflecting on their singledom — or even their SELF-WORTH. As many start looking forward to and planning for better spring and summer days to come, we can become DETACHED and dissatisfied with our current circumstances.

The “BLAHS” and BOREDOM can be quite normal and to be expected. However, there may be more to it than you might think!

Want to know if you are STRESSED or DEPRESSED? Sign up to receive an immediate download of the PATIENT HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE below.

You will answer questions about your sleeping, eating, and thought patterns and then be able to assess it using the guidelines provided on PAGE 2 or through discussion with a mental health professional.

The most common and often MISDIAGNOSED symptoms of depression are:

  • Lack of interest in hobbies or activities that you previously enjoyed
  • Oversleeping or lack of sleep
  • Fluctuations in weight
  • Constant tiredness
  • Poor concentration    

Let me share a few other things about depression:

Depression is SILENT and affects over 300 million people across the globe!

Depression is also the leading cause of DISABILITY worldwide!

BE PROACTIVE and KNOW YOUR STATUS and get the help needed for you and loved ones!

COMPLETE the FORM below to receive the Patient Health Questionnaire. 

PATIENT HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE

If, after completing the assessment, you would like to speak with us, we are making a LIMITED number of FREE CONSULTATIONS available this week.

Schedule your FREE CONSULTATION here.

Wishing you an inspired and stress-free week!

 

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Leslie Garcia Leslie Garcia

Am I Stressed or Depressed?

Honestly, it’s easy to get confused. It’s also easy to want to be confused as it’s often more acceptable to confess that you are struggling with stress than with depression. In our fast-paced, competitive, and wealth-driven societies, studies and surveys on stress are everywhere. Even though one condition is regularly concealed and the other so common, doesn’t mean we should remain uninformed or indifferent to the more severe signs and symptoms of both. 

I want you to think about that question: Am I stressed or depressed? Because there is a big difference!  

Honestly, it’s easy to get confused. It’s also easy to want to be confused as it’s often more acceptable to confess that you are struggling with stress than with depression. In our fast-paced, competitive, and wealth-driven societies, studies and surveys on stress are everywhere. Even though one condition is regularly concealed (see video below) and the other so common, doesn’t mean we should remain uninformed or indifferent to the more severe signs and symptoms of both.

The truth is that I don’t know anyone who has not encountered some form of long or short-term stress in his or her life. Think about it. Can you honestly say that each day of your life has been stress-free?  

Stress is how we react to pressure or when things become unbearable. Some of the common life experiences that can cause stress are:

  • Moving into a new home
  • Planning a wedding
  • Career changes
  • Studying for exams
  • Financial struggles
  • Dieting
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Aging
  • Traveling
  • Health complications

No wonder whenever we read about stress, it’s often in reference to how we can manage it! It’s universal! Nobody can promise you a stress-free life. Stress is here to stay and only you get to decide how you will treat this guest in your life. So, be mindful of your triggers.

Not all stress is bad. Acute stress is our body’s natural response to a new challenge or demand; its effects are moderate and even beneficial to body and mind. However, when acute stress occurs over prolonged periods of time, it is classified as chronic stress. And chronic stress kills. Physical and mental resources are depleted making sufferers more prone to heart and lung disease, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, and even suicide.

Now, is stress a risk factor for depression? Yes.

Do they have the same symptoms? Yes!

 

 

Chronic long-term stress and avoiding stress by thinking it will go away willingly puts you at risk for depression. What is depression? A mental illness or mood disorder.  

Depression affects your moods, thoughts, behaviors, sleeping and eating patterns, and your overall health. Depression makes navigating simple daily tasks intolerable or impossible! Some of the common symptoms are:

  • Prolonged feelings of sadness
  • Lack of interest in hobbies or activities that you previously enjoyed doing    
  • Oversleeping or lack of sleep    
  • Fluctuations in weight    
  • Constant tiredness    
  • Frequent crying episodes    
  • Poor concentration    
  • Thoughts of death

You hear the word depression, but do you truly understand the gravity of this condition?

Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Over 25 million individuals in the United States were living with major depression in 2014. Women are affected by depression to a greater degree than men. As mentioned in the video, 1 in 5 Canadians will suffer from mental illness at some point in their lifetimes. The other 4 will have a friend, family member or colleague who will. Worldwide, depression is a leading cause of suicide. Most importantly, the frequency and severity of symptoms increase over time if not properly addressed!  

How do you know whether you are suffering chronic stress or depression? Take a mental health questionnaire. Or schedule an appointment with a mental health professional. If you are interested in having a free initial screening with us, email us directly at info@counselingpc.com or call 347-494-5870.

We also recommend the following practices to fight chronic stress and depression:

Please know that chronic stress and major depression are treatable! Do not suffer in silence and live your entire life as if underwater!

At Counseling Space, P.C., we are here to listen. We are here to empower you with the tools to lead more emotionally stable and fulfilling lives! We are here to serve you.

Wishing you an inspired and stress-free week!

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