Depression

Depression can affect much more than your mood. It can change the way you think, sleep, eat, work, interact with other people, and experience things you once enjoyed. Some people with depression feel deeply sad, while others describe feeling empty, disconnected, irritable, exhausted, or simply unlike themselves.

Depression is common and treatable. Understanding what depression can look like is often an important first step toward deciding whether additional support may be helpful.

Clinically Reviewed by Dr. Angel Corbin, DBH, LPC, LAC
Last reviewed: September 2026

Depression does not feel the same for everyone. While persistent sadness is common, some people experience depression primarily as a loss of interest, motivation, energy, or emotional connection.

Common experiences associated with depression can include:

• Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Changes in sleep, including sleeping too much or too little
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Irritability or frustration
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or being a burden
• Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities
• Difficulty keeping up with work, school, parenting, or everyday responsibilities
• Physical aches, slowed movement, or feeling physically drained
• Thoughts about death or suicide

A person does not need to experience every symptom to be struggling with depression.

Sadness is a normal human emotion. People naturally experience periods of sadness following disappointment, loss, conflict, stress, or major life changes.

Depression can be different. Symptoms may persist for weeks or longer, occur without an obvious cause, or begin interfering with relationships, work, school, self-care, sleep, and other parts of everyday life.

Some people with depression do not describe themselves as sad at all. They may instead notice that they no longer enjoy things, have difficulty getting started in the morning, become increasingly isolated, feel unusually irritable, or simply feel emotionally numb.

Major depressive disorder involves a period of depressive symptoms that significantly affects daily functioning. Symptoms can involve mood, interest or pleasure, sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, movement, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and thoughts about death or suicide.

Persistent depressive disorder involves depressive symptoms that continue over a longer period of time. Symptoms may sometimes feel less intense than a major depressive episode, but their long duration can have a substantial effect on relationships, work, motivation, and quality of life.

Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression that follows a recurring seasonal pattern. It most commonly begins during the fall or winter months, although seasonal patterns can vary.

Depression can occur during pregnancy or after childbirth. Perinatal and postpartum depression can involve sadness, anxiety, exhaustion, difficulty experiencing pleasure, feelings of inadequacy or guilt, and difficulty functioning during a period that can already involve major physical and emotional changes.

Depression usually does not have one simple cause. Biological, psychological, medical, and social factors can interact in different ways for different people.

Factors associated with depression can include genetics and family history, stressful or traumatic experiences, relationship difficulties, social isolation, major life changes, chronic stress, certain medical conditions, medications, substance use, and changes in sleep or physical health.

Sometimes a clear event appears to trigger depressive symptoms. In other cases, someone may develop depression even when life appears to be going well.

Depression is not a character flaw or simply a failure to think positively.

Depression can gradually affect areas of life that may initially seem unrelated to mood.

Someone may begin missing work, avoiding friends, neglecting household responsibilities, exercising less, sleeping at unusual times, eating differently, losing interest in intimacy, or struggling to make decisions that once seemed simple.

Because these changes can develop gradually, people sometimes adapt to them without realizing how much their lives have changed. Family members, friends, coworkers, or partners may notice the difference before the person experiencing depression fully recognizes it.

Depression can be treated in several ways, and treatment depends on the individual, the severity and duration of symptoms, personal preferences, medical history, and other circumstances.

Psychotherapy is a common treatment for depression. Approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help people identify patterns of thinking and behavior that may contribute to depressive symptoms and develop more effective ways of responding to them.

Other therapeutic approaches may focus on relationships, grief, trauma, emotional regulation, problem-solving, behavioral changes, or recurring patterns that contribute to distress.

Medication may also be appropriate for some people and can be discussed with a physician or other qualified prescribing healthcare professional. Some people benefit from psychotherapy alone, while others benefit from a combination of psychotherapy and medication.

Sleep, physical activity, social connection, substance use, medical conditions, and other health factors may also influence depressive symptoms and can be important parts of understanding the overall picture.

You do not have to wait until depression becomes severe before talking with a counselor.

Counseling may be worth considering when changes in mood, motivation, energy, sleep, relationships, or enjoyment of life persist or begin interfering with everyday functioning.

It may also be helpful when you find yourself increasingly withdrawing from other people, struggling to manage responsibilities, feeling stuck in recurring negative thoughts, or recognizing that the strategies you normally use to cope are no longer working.

If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, believe you may harm yourself, or are in immediate danger, seek immediate help. In the United States, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is an immediate threat to life or safety, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Etheria Counseling provides outpatient counseling for depression and related concerns. Our clinicians work with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families using therapeutic approaches selected according to each client's needs and treatment goals.

Counseling may focus on depressive symptoms as well as concerns that sometimes occur alongside depression, including anxiety, grief, trauma, relationship difficulties, chronic stress, major life changes, and problems with sleep or daily functioning.

Accepting New Clients

In-Person: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Telehealth: Throughout South Carolina
Ages: 6+
Insurance: Medicare, Medicaid, and major insurance plans
Self-Pay: Available

If depression is affecting your life and you would like to talk with a counselor, Etheria Counseling is accepting new clients.

Call 843-868-6200 or use our online scheduling option to get started.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — Depression

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — Psychotherapies

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Mental health and suicide crisis support