what is depression?
Depression
is
an illness that results in feelings of sadness and hopelessness more
often than not. Anyone is succeptible to depression and it often runs
in families. However, even those who do not have a family history of
depression can experience depression. There are different types of
depression including Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood, Major
Depression, and Dysthymia.
The most common type of depression is an Adjustment Disorder. An individual experiences symptoms of depression but the feelings continue for less than six months and are usually the result of a negative experience or multiple stressors. Examples may include a divorce or break up, business difficulties, marital problems or even moving house. These stressors may affect a single individual, an entire family or a community (e.g., as in a natural disaster). Other stressors may accompany developmental events such as becoming a parent, leaving the parental home, retirement.
Major Depression is a serious depressive disorder in which an individual experiences a severely depressed mood nearly everyday, for most of the day, for a period of at least two weeks and can continue for up to seven to nine months or more. It is not uncommon to have repeat bouts of major depression. The lifetime risk for Major Depressive Disorder in community samples has varied from 10% to 25% for women and from 5% to 12% for men. Individuals with severe or chronic general medical problems are at an increased risk to develop Major Depressive Disorder. Depressive symptoms are similar for both adults and older children and include a sense of intense sadness, low energy or fatigue, low self-esteem, poor concentration, difficulty with decision making, sleep disturbance, a loss of interest in activities which used to be pleasurable, self-criticism, and feelings of hopelessness. Anxiety symptoms may be present. In more severe depression, the individual might think life is not worth living and/or have suicidal thoughts.
The essential feature of Dysythmic Disorder is a chronically depressed mood that occurs for at least two years more days than not for most of the day. Individuals with Dysthymia describe their mood as sad or down in the dumps. The associated features are similar to those for a Major Depressive Disorder. Individuals tend to report symptoms including feelings of inadequacy, generalized loss of interest or pleasure, social withdrawal, brooding about the past, feelings of irritability or anger and decreased activity or productivity. With Dysthymia, the symptoms have become very much a part of the individual's day-to-day experience and are likely to interfere with normal adjustment.
How is group therapy beneficial for me?
Whether you realize it or not, a large part of feeling better depends on your support system. The Butterfly Freedom format provides a built-in network system each week and allows you to interact with others who have similar issues. In addition, the group process helps you become more aware of the fact that others are experiencing very similar thoughts and feelings to you.
The most common type of depression is an Adjustment Disorder. An individual experiences symptoms of depression but the feelings continue for less than six months and are usually the result of a negative experience or multiple stressors. Examples may include a divorce or break up, business difficulties, marital problems or even moving house. These stressors may affect a single individual, an entire family or a community (e.g., as in a natural disaster). Other stressors may accompany developmental events such as becoming a parent, leaving the parental home, retirement.
Major Depression is a serious depressive disorder in which an individual experiences a severely depressed mood nearly everyday, for most of the day, for a period of at least two weeks and can continue for up to seven to nine months or more. It is not uncommon to have repeat bouts of major depression. The lifetime risk for Major Depressive Disorder in community samples has varied from 10% to 25% for women and from 5% to 12% for men. Individuals with severe or chronic general medical problems are at an increased risk to develop Major Depressive Disorder. Depressive symptoms are similar for both adults and older children and include a sense of intense sadness, low energy or fatigue, low self-esteem, poor concentration, difficulty with decision making, sleep disturbance, a loss of interest in activities which used to be pleasurable, self-criticism, and feelings of hopelessness. Anxiety symptoms may be present. In more severe depression, the individual might think life is not worth living and/or have suicidal thoughts.
The essential feature of Dysythmic Disorder is a chronically depressed mood that occurs for at least two years more days than not for most of the day. Individuals with Dysthymia describe their mood as sad or down in the dumps. The associated features are similar to those for a Major Depressive Disorder. Individuals tend to report symptoms including feelings of inadequacy, generalized loss of interest or pleasure, social withdrawal, brooding about the past, feelings of irritability or anger and decreased activity or productivity. With Dysthymia, the symptoms have become very much a part of the individual's day-to-day experience and are likely to interfere with normal adjustment.
How is group therapy beneficial for me?
Whether you realize it or not, a large part of feeling better depends on your support system. The Butterfly Freedom format provides a built-in network system each week and allows you to interact with others who have similar issues. In addition, the group process helps you become more aware of the fact that others are experiencing very similar thoughts and feelings to you.