Unlike normal emotions and mood changes, depression is persistent and overwhelming. It can significantly interfere with your sleep, appetite and energy level. It can leave you devoid of motivation and interest in formerly enjoyable activities. It can have a major impact on your physical health.

Depression can produce feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt and emptiness. It can result in isolation from friends and family.

There is no single cause of depression. It can be due to a chemical imbalance; it can be genetic. Major life events, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, chronic stress, alcohol or drug abuse may all trigger episodes of depression.

Sometimes therapy alone can be the answer and at other times therapy should be supplemented by  medication. In either case, therapy provides a  place to freely express yourself and uncover layers of feelings or experiences that underly the depression. By uncovering and working through these feelings, depression can often be helped or eliminated.