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To find out if you are clinically depressed download now: \
Depression Screening Tool (pdf)

  call for an appointment           
​ Pamela Bowers MS, LLP
 2311 E Stadium, ​
 Suite 105 North
 Ann Arbor, MI 48104
   

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   Depression: It's More than Sadness

• Are you often self critical?  (I'm no good...I'm a failure")

• Do you feel sad, irritable, frustrated, or too often angry?
• Are you unmotivated, feel apathetic  or empty? 
• ​Find your self avoiding people or pleasurable activities?

    
​    Therapy can help you in these important ways: 

• ​Reduce your feelings of sadness & hopelessness
• Help you find more satisfying ways of connecting with people
• Overcome feelings of worthlessness or unnecessary and unusable guilt or shame​ 

     Links to Other Resources:

• ​Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• U-M Depression Tool Kit
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance
• ​American Psychological Association
• ​National Institute of Mental Health​​

Depression: Facts vs Myths

               Myths:
Depression is not a real illness;   all you need to do to cure it is to think positive thoughts. 

​​The only way to know if someone is depressed is if they're sad

​Throw yourself into work, you'll feel better​

​Anti depressants always cure depression

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                                                                 Facts:
​Depression is one of the top causes of disability in the US. Researchers can identify physical changes in the brain when mood is dysregulated. 

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​Symptoms of depression vary widely. Some people are more prone to be irritable, angry, restless,  feel empty or “flat” or engage in addictive behaviors.

​Depression is not  a sign of  of laziness (or of self-pity & weakness for that matter). For a mild case of the blues, being active can help but overworking can also be a symptom of depression

Anti-depressants help address the biological underpinnings of depression but often aren't enough by themselves. Psychotherapy (talk therapy) helps with the emotional experience of depression and the two treatments are often combined.