Jennifer McDermott, MA, RSW
  • Welcome
  • About
    • Jennifer McDermott, MA, RSW
  • Services
    • Individual Counselling >
      • Mental Health
      • Depression
      • Anxiety
      • Personal Stress
    • Marriage Counselling
    • Family Counselling
    • Parenting & Adolescence Counselling
    • Addiction Counselling
    • Infertility Counselling
    • Workplace Challenges
  • Rates
  • Hours & Location
  • Request An Appointment
  • New Client Documents
  • Links & Resources
  • Office Rental
  • Office & Suite Pictures
  • Contact Us


Counselling for Depression

Jennifer McDermott, M.A., R.S.W., Counselling Services can help you if you are not feeling like yourself & possibly depressed.  When life is not going well, it is normal to feel sad or anxious.   Some people may even lose sleep & the desire to eat.   However, as time passes & life settles back into its routine these feelings should fade.   Depression on the other hand is quite different from this situation where one may feel down for just a few days.   The term depression is used in the clinical setting to refer to a serious medical condition effecting the brain's chemistry.  Depression is a severe illness, just like heart disease, & is not a sign of weakness. 
    

How to Recognize Depression


Something more may be happening, if your inner unrest lasts for weeks or months & it is negatively impacting and interfering with your life. 

Some of the signs of depression are:

- Unusual irritability or sensitivity
- Feeling unloved or sad
- Feeling pessimistic, hopeless or worthless
- Feeling guilty
- Feeling restless or anxious
- Feeling very tired and sluggish
- Loss of concentration and difficulties making decisions
- Decline in sex drive
- Unusually slow speech
- Increased use of alcohol, tobacco or illicit drugs
- Sleeping &/or eating more or less than usual
- Persistent headaches, stomach aches or chronic pain
- Self-isolation or unusual dependency on others
- Loss of interet in hobbies or activities normally enjoyed
- Decreased performance on work-related tasks
Picture


What Causes Depression?


It is unclear exactly what causes depression & how it develops.  In depression, however, the neural circuits fail to function properly & critical neurotransmitters are impaired.   The neural circuits are responsible for the regulation of mood, thinking, appetite & how people behave in general.    This medical condition may cause intense emotional pain.

Some potential risk factors include:
-  Depression running in the family
-  Mental & emotional aspects of one's life are out of balance
-  Substance abuse
-  Physically overtraining
-  Poor nutrition & eating disorders
-  Women hormonal issues concurrent with social factors
-  Serious illness (such as heart disease, stroke, AIDS, diabetes or cancer)
-  Low self-esteem with a tendency to be pessimistic, as well as easily overwhelmed


Therapy


Without treatment & therapy, symptoms of depression can last for months & in some cases even years.   With appropriate & timely treatment, however, most people can recover from depression.   The most effective course of treatment for moderate to severe cases of depression is through a combination of therapy & drug treatment.    Medications from your physician may be helpful for reducing symptoms, while therapy can assist with an understanding of the causes, relieve suffering & provide life skills to cope & handle with similar situations. 
 
If you think you're depressed or simply just going through a difficult period in your life, Jennifer McDermott Counselling Services can help assess & assist you with addressing this concern.
      


CALL (647) 292-3501 OR CLICK HERE
TO REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT 




3080 Yonge St., Suite 6060, Unit 638, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3N1
(647) 292-3501 | jenmcdermott@yahoo.ca


27 Gowan St., Barrie, Ontario, L4N 2N9
(647) 292-3501 | jenmcdermott@yahoo.ca

© 2011-2022 Jennifer McDermott, MA, RSW