​Treatment for Depression Offered

Rediscover joy in life with therapy for depression​

Sometimes, the word "depressive" is casually used to describe feeling a bit down.

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It is also used to refer to periods of grief after losing a loved one or feeling upset and anxious due to being fired, facing financial problems, going through a divorce, failing exams, or dealing with other life crises.

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Both grief and sadness are difficult emotions to experience, but they are not the same as depression.

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Depression is not a normal reaction, like grief or great disappointment; it is a profound change in personality.

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One woman described feeling like concrete—gray, petrified, cold, and immovable. A man explained that his thoughts constantly revolved around death and that his body felt paralyzed. Another person experienced deep despair and only found slight relief when sitting under a running shower, crying.

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It is estimated that one in five or six Danes will develop depressive symptoms or depression at some point in their lives. For most, symptoms and depression ease after about six months, but it can be an extremely challenging period to get through.

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At CEKTOS, we offer professional treatment for depression, helping hundreds of people each year in our clinics across Denmark, including in Copenhagen, Næstved, Thisted, and Aarhus. If you're seeking help for depression, we can support you too.

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What is Depression?​

Depression is a persistent state of sadness, reduced motivation, lack of interest, and a range of accompanying emotions, such as:​

- Weakness

- Emptiness

- Worthlessness

- Guilt

- Apathy

- Suicidal thoughts

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A person with depression experiences these thoughts and feelings nearly all day, every day. As a result, they affect all aspects of life: work, family relationships, social interactions, leisure activities, and even sleep, often leading to sleep disorders.

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When a doctor or psychologist diagnoses depression, they need to understand the patient’s experience of life at that moment.

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Common Signs of Depression​

If you have felt sad and down every day for more than two weeks, have lost interest in activities you normally enjoy, and feel drained and sense that life lacks meaning, it is likely you are experiencing depression.

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Different Levels of Depression​

Depression varies in severity and is typically categorized into three levels:

​- Mild Depression

- Moderate Depression

- Severe Depression

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The boundaries between these levels are not sharply defined.

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Mild Depression:

With mild depression, you can often manage daily life. You may still go to work and spend time with family and friends, but it requires significant effort.

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Moderate Depression:

In moderate depression, maintaining a normal daily routine becomes difficult. You may feel compelled to call in sick to work, withdraw from social relationships, and experience disrupted sleep patterns and poor sleep quality.

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Severe Depression:

In severe depression, even meeting basic needs like eating, drinking, bathing, or going for a walk can feel overwhelming. Some people with severe depression develop suicidal thoughts, and a few may create concrete plans for suicide.​

What Are the Symptoms of Depression?​

Depression symptoms fall into three categories, though you don’t need to have all of them to be diagnosed with depression:

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Emotional Symptoms:

- Feeling worthless

- Loss of joy

- Emptiness

- Low self-esteem

- Feeling responsible for your sadness

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Physical Symptoms:

- Lack of energy

- Fatigue

- Loss of appetite or constant hunger

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Behavioral Symptoms:

- Avoiding social interactions and isolating yourself

- Inability to focus on normal conversations, leading others to perceive you as cold or indifferent

- Reversing your sleep pattern

- Sleeping too much or too little

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Why Do You Become Depressed?​

There are several theories about the causes of depression.

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Previously, it was believed that depression, like other mental illnesses, stemmed from trauma or negative experiences earlier in life, such as during childhood or adolescence.

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The theory was that these traumas accumulated in the mind until they overwhelmed the person, causing a breakdown and leading to depression.

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Today, research suggests that past traumas are not stored up. The human mind works like a sieve, capable of letting bad experiences fade away if you choose to let go of the thoughts surrounding them.

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However, if you dwell on, process, or constantly ruminate about these thoughts and experiences, you risk developing depression.

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For years, low serotonin levels were also believed to be a cause of depression. While some studies have shown that people with depression may have low serotonin levels, other research questions the direct link between serotonin and depression.

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How is Depression Treated​

There is effective psychological help available for all three levels of depression.

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For severe depression, some people may benefit from medication. However, it’s important to understand that medication doesn’t treat the underlying cause of depression—it only alleviates symptoms temporarily, may have side effects, and loses its effectiveness once you stop taking it.

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At CEKTOS we offer metacognitive therapy for depression​

Studies show that 70% of patients see a reduction in depressive symptoms, and 80% recover entirely with metacognitive therapy.

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In metacognitive therapy, you’ll gain an understanding of how ingrained habits and beliefs cause depressive symptoms. You’ll learn to manage your ruminations and worries, breaking the vicious cycle that keeps you trapped in depressive symptoms.

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You’ll discover that you have control over the mental mechanisms—like rumination and self-focus—that sustain the symptoms.

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And you’ll understand that your mind (your brain) can regulate itself when you let your thoughts be.

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Metacognitive therapy for depression typically consists of 6-12 sessions, offered either in group therapy or one-on-one.​