Beverly Hills Depression Therapy :: Industry Therapist Rebecca Roy, M.A., MFT

Beverly Hills Depression Therapy

Entertainment Industry people are just as prone to depression as everyone else, but may have a propensity for it because of the demands in which they are placed. In any given 1-year period, 9.5 percent of the population, or about 20.9 million American adults, suffer from a depressive illness. We have no specialized numbers about Industry people in general, but we do know that stress, life changes, lack of sleep and use of substances can significantly contribute to bringing on a depressive episode.

This is a business that thrives on irregular patterns and in that regard, Industry people certainly are susceptible to depression.

A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression.

Women experience depression about twice as often as men, often because of hormonal changes. Men's depression is often masked by alcohol or drugs, or by the socially acceptable habit of working excessively long hours. Depression typically shows up in men not as feeling hopeless and helpless, but as being irritable, angry, and discouraged; hence, depression may be difficult to recognize as such in men. Although men are less likely to suffer from depression than women, 6 million men in the United States are affected by the illness. Men are less likely to admit to depression, and doctors are less likely to suspect it. The rate of suicide in men is four times that of women, though more women attempt it.

A major depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms (see symptom list) that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. Such a disabling episode of depression may occur only once but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime.

A less severe type of depression, dysthymia, involves long-term, chronic symptoms that do not disable, but keep one from functioning well or from feeling good. Many people with dysthymia also experience major depressive episodes at some time in their lives.

Another type of depression is bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive disorder. There is a separate section in this website for this one, which affects many people in the Industry.

If you are depressed, seeking treatment in the form of psychotherapy and possibly medication, if the episode warrants it, is your first step to getting better. You will feel better and you will move on from this to astronger, healthier place. You will also learn skills to deal with it so the next time won’t feel so bad.

Depression Symptoms
• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
• Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
• Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
• Restlessness, irritability
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

We practice and serve Beverly Hills, Century City, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, Studio City, and the surrounding areas in California.