Because depression isn't always overt sadness it can impact us without much notice. I think of the Latin, deprimere which means, "to press down". A literal thumbprint depression into the earth's soil might serve as a better word picture for depression than "feelings of sadness". Persistent numbness, emptiness, flatness, low energy and motivation can also be signs of clinical depression.
What's actually going on
We know that there is suffering in this life. We experience pain whether it is self-inflicted or generated by others as we live in a fallen and broken world. From the perspective of the body, mood can be impacted by illness, chemical imbalances, or even exhaustion. From the perspective of the mind, mood can be impacted by negative and or/false patterns of thinking, or a misplacement of purpose and identity.
How counseling helps
Counseling allows for the space to tell your story. A good counselor strives to sense your internal world including your experience with numbness, pain, and hopelessness and then walk alongside you. We will assess for the underlying cause. Depression resulting from a physiological cause is treated differently than depression resulting from poor life choices. Of course, it is not the role of the counselor to incite judgement. There may be times when it is necessary to evaluate and challenge unspoken functional worldviews. These functional worldviews align with the way you are actively living, but may be different than what you would say you believe out loud. Valleys in this life do exist, a good counselor walks alongside you and points you to hope in the midst of your story.
When to reach out
You should seek professional help for depression if symptoms have started interfering with your ability to live life. Calling off work, skipping self-care routines, and feeling too low to enjoy the things you once cared about may be indicators that it's time to talk to someone. If you're having serious thoughts of ending your life, don't wait for an appointment: call or text 988 now.