Depression

Depression is a common mental health concern, as it affects more than 8% of adults and 15% of children ages 12-17 in the United States. At Hudson River Care and Counseling in Hoboken and Teaneck, New Jersey, the licensed mental health specialists provide progressive, spiritual, and holistic counseling sessions that help you overcome depressive thoughts or worrisome behaviors. Schedule an in-office or telehealth evaluation at Hudson River Care and Counseling by phone or request one online today.

What is depression?

Depression is a mental health condition that causes sadness. You might experience extremely sad feelings or ongoing depression that affects your quality of life when not addressed. Severe depression can be dangerous, negatively affecting your physical health and well-being or leading to suicidal ideation.

What does it feel like to have depression?

Depression can cause the following symptoms:

• Ongoing or extreme sadness
• Anxiety
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Social withdrawal
• Hopelessness
• Worthlessness
• Substance misuse
• Thoughts of suicide
• Sleep changes
• Changes in weight
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Problems with relationships, work, or school

Depression can be crippling in many cases. See a Hudson River Care and Counseling specialist at the first sign of a mental health condition.

What can cause depression?

Numerous factors can contribute to depression. It may result because of certain personality traits, a family history of depression, changes in brain chemistry, traumatic life events, or other life circumstances. 

Additional risk factors include abuse, job loss, relationship issues, divorce, financial challenges, or having a chronic medical condition. It’s common to have anxiety and depression together. 

How is depression diagnosed?

Diagnosing depression requires a mental health examination. The Hudson River Care and Counseling experts ask about your thoughts, moods, emotions, and more. They discuss your personal and family history of mental health challenges, lifestyle, and desired outcomes.

How is depression treated? 

Treating depression at Hudson River Care and Counseling often includes holistic, spiritual counseling sessions. You meet with a therapist in person or virtually via telehealth to complete talk therapy. Your specialist teaches behavior-change strategies that help you overcome depressive thoughts and problematic behavior patterns.

Your therapist might meet with you individually or with your spouse, partner, family, or in a group setting. Hudson River Care and Counseling offers infertility group counseling sessions and therapy tailored to domestic abuse, sexual abuse, human trafficking abuse, or LGBTQ issues to help people with depression.

It’s typical to meet with a therapist for an hour once weekly or as needed.

It’s also important to adopt healthy habits, including eating nutritious foods, getting regular exercise, sleeping enough, minimizing stress, and having a strong social support network in place. Avoid drinking alcohol, smoking, and using drugs.

Follow up with your counselor for routine depression counseling sessions. They may refer you to another specialist if you’re a candidate for antidepressant medications.

Schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment at Hudson River Care and Counseling by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.