Chronic Depression

Chronic Depression, also known as Dysthymia is a condition that causes chronic low or depressed mood. Symptoms may be long lasting but are generally less severe than the symptoms of Major Depression. Chronic Depression is characterized by a low or depressed mood that occurs most days and lasts for at least 2 years. Dysthymia affects approximately 11 million Americans age 18 and older.

Some of the common symptoms of Chronic Depression are persistent feelings of hopelessness, sleeping too much or too little, lack of energy, fatigue, low self-esteem, Changes in eating habits, problems with concentration or memory, mental or physical sluggishness, chronic aches and pains, cramps or digestive problems and thoughts of death or suicide.

Counseling for Chronic Depression

Chronic Depression is very treatable. Counseling (or psychotherapy) can help you develop coping skills for dealing with everyday life, can increase healthy lifestyle habits and help you understand depression better. One of the most effective treatments for chronic depression is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Counselor Rick A. Combs uses CBT to help you learn to identify and change the unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that are keeping your depression active. Your thoughts, beliefs and actions dramatically affect your mood, therefore, by learning methods that foster more healthy thinking and behaviors you can better manage your mood for the long term. In contrast to traditional talk therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is time-limited and focused on the here and now. CBT focuses on teaching you how to have more balanced thoughts that will result in more balanced moods. This approach results in long term, rather than temporary changes.