Depression May Be Common, But Your Experiences are Truly Unique and Personal.

  • Depression is a mental illness that can happen to anyone, regardless of background or gender. Depression has many symptoms, but some of the most common are feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and feeling a lack of motivation. Things you once loved in your life will seem to lack meaning, and this feeling will be present for weeks to months or even longer.

  • A therapist, psychologist, or doctor can diagnose depression. It is important to work with a mental health professional or a doctor with a deep familiarity of depression and symptoms to ensure an appropriate diagnosis. Not everyone experiencing sadness is depressed, but this is a very common symptom.

  • Taking medication of any kind is a personal decision to be made with a medical professional. If you work with Sara, she will never “force” you to take medication. However, Sara will work in coordination with your doctor (if you would allow) to ensure that your medication and therapy can work in tandem. If you NEVER want to take medication, a therapist should respect that choice.

  • Most depression is not an emergency and can be treated in therapy and/or with medication. However, depression becomes an emergency the moment that you have a plan to hurt yourself or somebody else. If you are not sure if you are experiencing an emergency, don’t risk it. Get help immediately. You can get help by going to your nearest emergency room, by dialing 911, or by dialing 988 to reach the National Suicide Hotline.

So many people overlook a common symptom of depression which is a lack of motivation. This can be feeling that you don’t have the energy to finish household tasks or work, but this can be a lack of motivation to do larger things like meet a partner or even have the energy to get out of bed. Many people can overlook this as “laziness” but this is often a sign of underlying depression.

All of the information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or mental health services of any kind. If you are experiencing an emergency, dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, you can reach the National Suicide Hotline by dialing 988 in the United States. This will connect you to an empathetic, listening support system to help you during the crisis.

Nearly twenty percent of adults in the US will experience depression in their lives. Of these groups, adults between the ages of 18-29 are at the highest risk.

National Institutes of Health Study 2024