Is It Just a Rough Patch? When to Consider Treatment for Situational Depression

Life is full of ups and downs. Sometimes, you might feel like you’re in a rough patch that you can’t escape. This can bring down your mood and make you feel hopeless for a while.

The key words, of course, are “for a while.”

It’s okay to feel down when you’re going through something difficult, but certain situations can contribute to deeper mental health issues. Even if you’ve never struggled with depression before, if you’re feeling overwhelmed with sadness and those feelings haven’t changed in a long time, you could be going through more than a rough patch.

So, what is situational depression, and when should you consider treatment?

Understanding Situational Depression

Any stressful life event or trauma can trigger situational depression. It is considered a short-term form of depression that typically only lasts a few months. When the situation causing it passes or doesn’t seem as overwhelming, the feelings associated with it tend to fade.

However, that doesn’t always happen. The months you’re dealing with depression can be exceedingly difficult, and without the right kind of help and support, the depression might linger or affect your mental well-being in other ways.

What Are the Signs?

The signs of situational depression can vary slightly from person to person. However, the biggest symptom is persistent sadness or low mood. Again, everyone feels down sometimes. It’s when those feelings of sadness linger for weeks or months that you should consider it a red flag.

In addition to experiencing persistent sadness, you might start to lose interest in things you typically enjoy, or even withdraw from friends and family. Unfortunately, isolation often makes the symptoms of depression worse.

Though depression is a mental health issue, it can affect your physical wellness, too. You might experience fatigue, changes in eating and sleeping habits, headaches, stomachaches, or even chest pains.

People dealing with depression often have a hard time seeing how things are ever going to get better. That sense of hopelessness creates a sort of vicious cycle, making your symptoms worse and making it harder to get the help you need.

When to Consider Treatment

You should consider treatment for situational depression if your symptoms have lasted longer than two weeks, and if they are negatively impacting your quality of life. If the symptoms are so severe that you’re having trouble working, maintaining relationships, or taking care of yourself, don’t hesitate to get help.

When Things Aren’t Getting Better

There are things you can do on your own to help with your symptoms. Self-care practices like exercise, getting enough sleep, and practicing mindfulness can make a big difference. Staying social and leaning on your support system can also help. Even things like journaling can help you better understand your feelings while serving as a log of how far you’ve come.

However, if you’ve been consistently trying things to fight back against your depressive thoughts and your symptoms aren’t getting better or they’re escalating, consider therapy for depression as your next step.

Therapy can help you dig deeper into the situation that's causing your feelings. Getting to the root cause is often a necessary first step when you truly want to heal. You’ll also learn how to cope with the situation in healthier ways while developing strategies to make symptom management easier.

Don’t assume that because you’re going through a difficult situation or stage of life that you’ll “get over it” on your own. If the signs of situational depression seem all too familiar and things aren’t getting better, you deserve support. Feel free to contact us for more information or to set up an appointment soon.