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Sadness is a normal part of life, but when it’s accompanied by hopelessness, worthlessness, or numbness, it’s a sign that there may be something more serious at hand that requires professional therapy and care.
These feelings may indicate that you’re experiencing depression, a common mood disorder that can stem from trauma, learned behavior, negative thought patterns, and biochemistry–or some combination of all of the above.
Depression affects how we think, feel and behave, which can cause a whole host of emotional and physical problems. For example, depression may cause you to feel sad, disconnected, or apathetic, which ends up affecting not only you, but also may have a detrimental effect on your relationships.
Depression may even cause you to feel super intense emotions like emptiness, irrational guilt, preoccupation with death, thoughts of suicide and unhealthy dependence on others.
How might this show up in your own life?
Well, if there’s a happy situation going on that used to bring you joy, you may notice that you no longer feel as relaxed or excited as you used to.
You may feel a sense of apathy that never seems to go away.
You may also experience increased anxiety and agitation, making you feel unsafe or uncomfortable in situations that used to feel normal or even enjoyable.
You may also start to entertain the idea of suicide. Whether you are actually considering going through with it or just thinking about it (known as suicidal ideation), please reach out to a professional or call 911 or 988 (the suicide hotline) immediately.
Suicide is a permanent way to avoid a temporary problem with depression that our LA depression therapists can help you overcome.
We’re so confident in our extraordinary therapists that we guarantee you’ll love your match – or your money back.
At My LA Therapy, our highly-vetted Anxiety experts are selected not only for their clinical acumen but for who they are.
Below are some telltale symptoms you might relate to if you’re dealing with depression:
*Again, please call 911 immediately if you are having thoughts of harming yourself in any way.*
As you can see, depression doesn’t just manifest in the mind, it shows up in the body as well.
Physical problems due to depression can include insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping too much), memory problems, increased risk of heart attack, weight fluctuation, constricted blood vessels, body fatigue, and a weakened immune system.
In fact, research is finding more and more evidence that gut health, immune health, and mental health are tied together in a self-reinforcing feedback loop (see our Functional Nutrition & Holistic Therapy Research page to learn more).
In other words, our physical and emotional lives interact bidirectionally and reinforce one another.
What does that mean?
Well, when we feel our best, we are more likely to eat healthy, exercise consistently, be more productive, and have positive interactions with others that create new friendships and relationships.
That’s on the positive side.
On the flip side, when we’re depressed, we may have difficulty motivating ourselves to do much of anything. Work, social engagements, and exercise tend to fly out the window.
The less we take care of ourselves, the worse we feel. And the worse we feel, the less we take care of ourselves.
Makes sense, right?
This becomes a vicious cycle that’s hard to break out of without the help and support of a professional.
Use our free tool to learn scientifically proven Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to overcome irrational thoughts and see yourself in more empowering, peaceful, and realistic ways.
What’s even worse is that depression consequently chips away at our self-esteem and self-worth (see our Self-Esteem page to learn more).
So, whether you are simply going through a rough time or you’re fully in the throes of depression, therapy can help you to identify underlying patterns and implement strategies to restore a sense of joy, peace, and competence to your life.
Our methods are scientifically-backed and research proven to be effective for treating depression, anxiety, and a whole host of other mental health issues.
Our evidence-based, scientifically proven therapy interventions are demonstrated to be effective for overcoming depression and other related mood and anxiety disorders. Learn more about our empirically-based therapy modalities by visiting our Methods page.
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I am blown away! I don’t write testimonials, unless I have been extremely moved by something. I was blessed to work with Brooke on a single session, and before this I was in therapy on and off with multiple therapists for the last 20 years of my life. Brooke was able to do more in one session than many years of work with my previous therapist. She has the true gift of great insight and compassion while also getting straight to the heart of your blind spots and unconscious issues in a way that has truly changed my life.
Skyler J.
There are people who are good at their work there are people like Brooke: who are born to do it. I cannot recommend Brooke more highly. I can only imagine where I would be today if I had started working with her years ago. From the beginning of our session, she knew exactly what tools and questions that would work for my particular psychology and my personal experience. No other therapist has been able to do that or anything close.
What I also really appreciate from our session is Brooke's ability to go directly to the source of the issue while also keeping a very gentle and kind energy with me. I felt very seen, understood, and supported. Everything and more that I could have ever asked for from a therapist. I have a severe trauma history and complex issues she was able to immediately identify and help. If she could help me, I know she can help you too.
Taylor E.
You did more in 45 minutes than my last therapist did in a year.
Jamie
With your help, I've finally started to understand that while my vivid imagination often wants to create terrifying monsters under the bed, in a lot of cases those monsters are nothing more than a heap of decidedly less-terrifying laundry I've avoided for too long that just needs to be aired out and put away. Which is definitely a lot easier than monster slaying. Thank you for shedding light in the dark places I was too afraid to face alone.
Morgan B.
I am extremely fortunate to work with Sydney, who is helping me create real internal change. The talent to listen well is Hall of Fame stuff, and she has that. She then follows with questions, strategies that are organic to the moment. I have come to believe that deep, radical, if occasionally deeply painful change ... and, then, healing can happen. I'm just at the lip of that last part - but would not have gotten there, AT ALL, without Sydney
Ric K.
The best therapist ever! Life-changing 🙂
Catherine H.
Right now, the work is changing my life, sometimes in inches, sometimes in miles.
Ric K.
