Therapy for depression in Amsterdam

Gloomy feelings are something we all recognize. It happens to everyone. After a short period of not feeling well and feeling gloomy you pick up the thread and move on.

So when does gloominess turn into depression?

The difference is mainly in the duration and intensity of the feelings. You can have an unpleasant day and experience happiness again after some attention and blowing off steam. Or You can also feel gloomy for a while after an unpleasant event. Gloominess can even come on just like that and that too is not in itself immediate cause for concern. But sometimes the feeling lingers over you like a heavy blanket for an extended period of time.

Emergence of depression

Each person can experience depression differently. Being in a vulnerable position does play an important factor for many. What does vulnerable position actually mean? You may be hereditarily burdened or have experienced drastic events called live events. Negative experiences in childhood and the negative beliefs developed with them, usually about yourself, can also come into play later in life. The negative self-image gives a feeling of worthlessness, not being good enough, falling short and in the long run these feelings and negative beliefs can be a source of somberness and/or depression. Persistent gloom and depression are common complaints today.

Symptoms of depression

You are likely to be depressed if you have been depressed and/or have lost interest and pleasure in many things for at least two weeks and suffer from five or more of the symptoms below;

• A depressed mood
• A clearly decreased interest in (almost) all activities or clearly decreased pleasure in (all) activities
• Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased appetite and weight gain
• Regularly disturbed sleep, insomnia or sleeping a lot
• Restlessness, agitation or feeling inhibited
• Fatigue and loss of energy
• Feeling of worthlessness or a strong sense of guilt
• Concentration problems: difficulty thinking or making decisions
• Recurring thoughts of death or thoughts/fantasies about suicide

What can I offer?

I will be there for you and listen to you. Your symptoms will be acknowledged. You no longer have to go through it all alone. We will work together on your energy level and on getting movement in your "system. This on a mental and physical level slowly creates more space to learn to look at life and yourself differently again. And from there we work towards more positivity, meaning and a realistic view.

Your story is leading for me. Together we search for the core of your somber and heavy blanket. From the core you can feel where your needs really lie and what you need to fulfill them. You will come to your thoughts, behavior, feelings, emotions, your being. You will gain more insight into yourself and therefore take back control. We will certainly not just talk about it, you will take steps and get moving. By working psychodynamically you learn to really feel again and you gain more confidence in life.

With very serious complaints

Usually one can recover from depression without medication. Mild depressive symptoms often do subside within a few weeks, but in some cases the depression may be mild or severe and last longer. Should you feel you are not recovering and the symptoms remain present (or recur more frequently), I recommend;

• Have a family doctor refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist within the basic mental health services (GGZ).
• Contact your general practitioner or psychiatrist and have medication prescribed (antidepressants).

Want to know more about therapy for depression?

Do you suffer from depressive feelings and would you like to do something about it? Send me a message for more information. Would you rather call? Leave me a voicemail message if I can't answer directly and I'll call you back as soon as possible.