Serenity Lane

Depression & Bipolar Disorder

Depression

Are you feeling down? Is your mood getting in the way of your potential to succeed? Depression is one of the most common mental health issues that adults face and can affect almost all aspects of our daily lives if left untreated. It can result in having low energy, an increased or decreased appetite, having difficulty concentrating, or a loss of interest in things you once found fun and enjoyable. It can become a chore just to get out of bed in the morning and take care of your everyday responsibilities. Don’t let your depression take hold and leave you feeling worthless and hopeless. Serenity Lane offers therapy to adults suffering from depression. In addition to traditional psychotherapy, Dr. Violante also offers therapeutic yoga as a supplemental treatment to help you improve your emotional well-being. Together we’ll create an individualized plan that will fit your unique needs so you can begin to feel like yourself again.

Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – a “here and now” approach to therapy – we’ll look at underlying themes that shape the way we see ourselves, the world, and our future. We’ll look at your belief systems, past and current experiences, relationships or situations you’re repeating, concerns about the future, and connective patterns that create themes in your life, such as fear of abandonment, rejection, or low-self esteem. No one wants to feel sad, but as human beings we like congruence, so we fall into familiar patterns that give us a false sense of security because we then know what to expect, even if the anticipated outcomes are undesirable. Doing things that are familiar, even if they add to distress or are destructive, provide a false sense of comfort because they validate your underlying belief systems and how you’re feeling in the moment. Unexpected behaviors and outcomes can be scary. What if you put in a lot of effort and nothing changes? You’ll risk feeling disappointed or guilty for trying. Doing the same thing over and over gives you a false sense of security and comfort. Together we’ll explore those major patterns and themes as we talk about what you hope to achieve. What are your goals? What do you want your life to look like? We’ll break the destructive thought, behavior, and decision-making patterns that lead to depression and work together to get you on the right track so you can find inner happiness and peace.

 

Bipolar Disorder

If you experience intense emotional instability and it’s difficult to regulate or manage your emotions in a way that’s productive, you may have a mood disorder, such as bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is characterized by having prolonged fluctuations between manic and depressive episodes. During mania, you may have high energy, take extreme risks, sleep deprivation, have delusions of grandeur, or exhibit extreme behavior. During mania you’ll feel productive, but don’t realize the consequences of your actions until you’ve come out of the episode. After the manic episode, you may slide back to your baseline mood or into depression for a period of time typically lasting two or more weeks. Therapy can help you regain control of your emotions and promote a productive and healthy life.

My counseling treatment includes looking at your day-to-day management, setting goals, keeping organized, reducing impulsivity, making healthy decisions, practicing mindfulness and relaxation breathing, promoting self-care, and making sure you’re aware of your diet, sleeping habits, medication, and routines since all of these factors can play a significant role in your emotional well-being. Therapy for bipolar and mood disorders is all about relapse prevention before you slide into a manic or severe depressive episode. Since there is not currently a cure for bipolar disorder, we’ll work on minimizing the fluctuation and severity of the episodes. You’ll learn how to set better boundaries with others and yourself, as well as how to be mindful of how your decisions affect others. We’ll make sure you have adequate, ongoing, stable support systems so you’re not alone in this process. If you’re working with a psychiatrist, we’ll work as a team (with your written consent), to make sure you’re getting the best well-rounded care.

If you have a loved one struggling with bipolar disorder, know that your well-being is just as important. Read Dr. Violante’s article, “Managing Mania: Tips to Help a Loved One Cope with Bipolar” on Good Therapy and contact her today to get the support you need.

 

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