Therapy for Men Who Feel Depressed
Depression is more than just a bad day. It feels like life has slowed to a crawl. Joy seems out of reach, and motivation disappears. Even getting up and walking to the kitchen can seem too hard.
Depression is low energy, loss of interest, foggy concentration and deep sadness. It can also come with sleep or appetite changes, and heavy criticism from our inner monologue.
The real nastiness of depression is that it can be so long-lasting, like a constant enemy that we can never outrun or push away.
At times like that, the most important thing to know is that depression is both well understood and very treatable. You may be so far down the tunnel that you can’t see daylight, but I promise you it is still there.
Depression in therapy
Depression commonly overlaps with anxiety and burnout. When this happens, depression itself can be either a cause or a symptom, so part of our work in therapy is to map your pattern and start addressing the root issues.
Some of my clients find that there is grief and sadness in them that they have been avoiding, and therapy is an ideal space to air those emotions.
Other clients find that they are really struggling with depression itself; they want to take action, but they can’t, they just feel like gravity has been turned up and everything they want is too hard.
The key to taking action in these cases is to find productive steps so small that they are still possible even under the weight of your depression.
Motivation follows action, not the other way around, so in therapy, we start with small, regular behavioural actions to get you back into an active rhythm. Over time, this builds up momentum in your life, because a better mood means more goal productivity, which means a better mood.
In most cases, the best weapon against depression will be new healthy habits for your body and mind. But if things have gone beyond counselling alone, I can help connect you with specialist treatment.
Ready to talk?
I offer counselling appointments in Penrith, or tele-health Australia-wide. After hour appointments available. No GP referral required.
The first step is to book a free 10 minute phone chat.
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If you are in immediate danger, call 000. For 24/7 support: Lifeline 13 11 14 (text 0477 13 11 14, webchat), Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, or the Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.