Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Albuquerque, New Mexico

If you are worried that you might be depressed, ask yourself whether you identify with any of the following symptoms:

  • Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
  • Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
  • Unnatural tiredness
  • Appetite changes — eating much more or far less than usual
  • Inability to concentrate — even on easy tasks
  • Uncontrollable negative thoughts
  • Irritability, aggression, and short-temperedness,
  • Engaging in reckless behavior
  • Drinking more alcohol than usual
  • Using illegal or prescription drugs to excess
  • Self-loathing — feelings of worthlessness and guilt
  • Unexplained aches and pains — including stomach pains, sore muscles, back pain and headaches

If you answered yes to one or more of these, you might be depressed, and cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, might be able to help. Before we speak to cognitive behavioral therapy for depression, be aware that living with depression can be a debilitating struggle and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to depression treatment. For example, getting enough high-quality sleep is an essential part of depression treatment programs. Your depression symptoms could feel more intense if you’re already exhausted and sleep deprivation can make you more moody, irritable and sad than usual.

Eating well is also vital for coping with any psychological disorder. Eating nutritious food throughout the day will fuel your body and mind, as well as avoiding binges and sugar-laden foods can keep your mood steady. Most psychological health professionals will also recommend that you exercise regularly to fight depression. Exercise triggers the release of mood-enhancing neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and endorphins. Getting active has the same effect on your brain as antidepressants do and exercise is a proven part of any well-rounded depression treatment program. Social support is also important and if you don’t have friends and family that you can trust, you might benefit from meeting people in a depression treatment program. In group counseling, you’ll meet honest, open people who are going through an experience like your own. Asking for help is often one of the most difficult steps for getting depression treatment started and we are here for you when you’re ready to take the first step.

Some people refer to CBT for depression as talk therapy because it’s a way of discussing how your actions affect your feelings and thoughts, and how you perceive yourself and other people in the world. We specialize in CBT for depression as this type of treatment can help you become more aware of your feelings and pinpoint some of the triggers for depression. CBT helps you identify flawed beliefs to eliminate destructive patterns of behavior and guides you to develop more constructive and balanced ways of coping with stressors. CBT focuses on how to improve your state of mind right now, rather than on looking back on the past.

CBT can be very effective if you have mild or moderate depression. It can be delivered as a standalone treatment without medication. Even if you have major depression – the depression can be alleviated by CBT when used in conjunction with medication and bodywork. CBT works both for adults and adolescents and is often used to reduce your risk of relapse. The coping and behavior modification skills CBT provides you with can be employed to treat many lingering symptoms for weeks, months and years and therefore is a wonderful tool to enable you to get mentally healthy and to stay that way.

You are most likely to respond well to CBT if you:

  • Are motivated and have a desire for change.
  • Have the capacity for introspection.
  • See yourself as having the ability to control events that happen around you.

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