Risk Factors for Major Depressive Disorder:

Environment- 

These would include adverse childhood experiences, abuse, and stressful life events.

Genetic and Physiological-

Those who have family members who have Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have a much higher chance of also having MDD.

Tempermental-

Negative affectivity (a personality variable that involves the experience of negative emotions and poor self-concept. Negative affectivity subsumes a variety of negative emotions that includes: anger, contempt, disgust, guilt, fear, and nervousness). 

Course Modifiers-

All major non-mood disorders increase the risk of individuals developing depression, especially substance abuse, anxiety, and  Borderline Personality Disorders. 

 Reference
 DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) American Psychiatric Association  

There is help available. Seek professional counseling and- medical care if needed. 

Follow us on Facebook for more inspiration!

   CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 

FREE Supports Groups Offered 
For Adults of All Ages
 Support groups are also for loved ones and family members

Depression, Feeling Hopeless, Anxiety, and Panic- Every 1st Saturday  at 10:00am- 11:15am- AND- Every 3rd Monday at 7:00pm- 8:15pm

Trauma, PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)- Every 2nd Saturday at 10:00am- 11:15am

Abuse Recovery- Every 1^st Saturday at 2:00pm- 3:15pm

Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Infant Loss, and Stillbirth)- Every 3rd Tuesday at

7:00pm- 8:15pm

Groups are every month and open-group. 

 Diane is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW

Registration is required.

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

(615) 556-8406

Counseling Office is Located at Michael Loftis Counseling

2670 Memorial Blvd
   Suite E2
    Murfreesboro, TN 37129

MichaelLoftisLCSW.com

There is ALWAYS HOPE and HEALING!!!!!!!!!!! 
Do Not Give Up!!!!!!!!

                      Diane Gammon M.S.
             Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now Open Full-Time: Days, Evenings, and Saturdays.

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)
  

 

 

 To be diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder according to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), a person needs to have 5 of the the following symptoms every day for at least two weeks straight. 

One of these symptoms needs to be either depressed mood or having no pleasure in activities in which they used to find pleasurable. 

1. Depressed mood most of the day, feeling sadness, hopeless, and empty.  

2. A diminished interest in pleasure in all activities most of the day.

3. Significant weight loss or weight gain.

4. Insomnia or sleeping too much every day.

5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation. 

6. Fatigue of loss of energy.

7. Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt.

8. Diminished ability to think or concentrate and having a difficult time making decisions.

9. Recurrent thoughts of death or of thinking of suicide, attempting suicide, or making a plan to commit suicide.   

 Reference
 DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) American Psychiatric Association  

There is help available.
Seeking professional counseling and medical care if needed.  
 
Follow us on Facebook for more inspiration!

   CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 

FREE Supports Groups Offered 
For Adults of All Ages
 Support groups are also for loved ones and family members

Depression, Feeling Hopeless, Anxiety, and Panic- Every 1st Saturday  at 10:00am- 11:15am- AND- Every 3rd Monday at 7:00pm- 8:15pm

Trauma, PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)- Every 2nd Saturday at 10:00am- 11:15am

Abuse Recovery- Every 1^st Saturday at 2:00pm- 3:15pm

Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Infant Loss, and Stillbirth)- Every 3rd Tuesday at

7:00pm- 8:15pm

Groups are every month and open-group. 

 Diane is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW

Registration is required.

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

(615) 556-8406

Counseling Office is Located at Michael Loftis Counseling

2670 Memorial Blvd
   Suite E2
    Murfreesboro, TN 37129

MichaelLoftisLCSW.com

There is ALWAYS HOPE and HEALING!!!!!!!!!!! 
Do Not Give Up!!!!!!!!

                      Diane Gammon M.S.
             Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now Open Full-Time: Days, Evenings, and Saturdays.

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)
  

 

 

Many of my clients want improved self- esteem but they do not want to love themselves. 

You have to love yourself to feel good about yourself.  ---  I am talking about accepting yourself for who you are of the things that you are not able to change. I am referring to a self-care kind of self-love. I am not talking about being an egotistical selfish person.

You have to love yourself before you can be in a healthy relationship / for another person to love you.

You have to demonstrate self-love in order to improve your self-esteem.

First, you have to accept the things that you absolutely cannot change about yourself and your life. 

Try and gain a new and positive attitude toward these things.

Then list the things that you like about yourself. List your talents, your strengths, your passions. List what makes you- YOU!

Then list things about you that you would like to change. Write down small steps that you can take to make these changes happen!

Make a list of things that you can do to improve your self- care such as ..... eating healthier, getting sunshine and fresh air, getting exercise, etc.

Embrace being yourself! Be confident in you who are. If you are confident about who you are then others will be as well! 

Remember - you attract what you believe that you deserve.

Demonstrate positive self-talk over and over and over. What you think will dictate what you feel and how you act.

Forgive yourself.

You have the power to choose your  thoughts and think things on purpose. 

 Proverbs 23:7 states: “As [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he.” 

Remember that you and your life are worthy and valuable and you can train your thought process to think this way.

God loves you. You are special and he has big plans for your life. Embrace His love for you and decide today that you are worth demonstrating self-love and feeling worthy!
 

Follow us on Facebook for more inspiration!

   CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 


 Diane Gammon M.S.
             Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now Open Full-Time: Days, Evenings, and Saturdays.

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)
  

 

 

If you are single and in your twenties, it is usually looked upon as awesome and exciting. 

If you are a single adult and are much older, then society tends to look at you as if perhaps something is wrong with you. 

Our society embraces couples in many ways.

I remember attending a series of Christian parenting classes years ago and everyone except for me were a couple. 

When I signed up to attend banquet fund raisers at my daughters school for years, I was asked who would be attending with me. I went every year alone. I survived it. I talk to any and everyone next to me on a daily basis!

I could go on but you get the picture.

When you are a single parent, it can be even more difficult. That comes with its own set of struggles. I have been a single parent for about 15 years now. It has been challenging in many ways. Statistics say that children from a single parent household do not turn out to be functioning and thriving individuals. I beg to differ. Also, my children didn't fall into drugs and alcohol like the statistics dictated that they would. 

No matter what your story is and what ever your struggle is as a single adult, please know that there is hope for triumph for your trials and that God has big plans for your life! 

Whether you have never married or you have become 'single again'- you can have an abundant life!

Here are some tips that can help you embrace being a single adult, especially becoming 'single again': 

Assess any damage and pain. Being a single adult or becoming single again can be confusing and painful. You can not heal from what you do not acknowledge.
 
Take things in your life s-l-o-w if you are at a vulnerable time in your life. It is best not to make big decisions at a time when you are feeling needy or vulnerable.

Use what you have been through to learn and grow.

Get a strong support system. Join a small group, a meet up group, or Sunday school class for single adults.

Be proud of who you are no matter what your relationship status is!

Take the opportunity of being alone to discover yourself and to go in new positive directions in your life. 

Take time to heal after a divorce or a death of a mate and do not enter into a new romantic relationship too soon. Take time to heal from your loss. 

Accept responsibility for your life. Seek counseling if needed. Forgive yourself and others if applicable and do what ever else that you need to to be proactive in your life.

Choose to have a positive attitude instead of living in self- pity.

Explore your passions and interests.

Learn to make yourself happy and do not expect to obtain happiness from another person.

Use this time to grow your personal relationship with God.

Follow us on Facebook for more inspiration!

   CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 

Looking for a support system/ new single friends in the middle TN area? 

Attend The Single’s Experience Life Group/ Ministry in Murfreesboro, TN for ages 30 to 100!

Every Thursday evening starting June 30, 2016

Location is the Experience Church 521 Old Salem Road, Murfreesboro, TN   (615)- 707-0384

Go upstairs to “‘The Loft” 

Starts at 6:30pm  Child care is provided

Led By Pastor Mike Dugan 

This group gets together outside of the church to do activities in the community as well. 

You do not need to attend The Experience Church to join this group!

                          By Diane Gammon M.S.
                   Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now Open Full-Time: Days, Evenings, and Saturdays.

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)
  

 

 

Are you making the most of your life? If not, WHY? 

What is holding your back? 



What are your excuses? 

What are your irrational thoughts?

 Do you need to have an attitude adjustment with yourself? 

Stop focusing on excuses not to live life to the fullest and start making plans and steps toward living an ABUNDANT LIFE!

What is YOUR WA HOOOOOOOO?


 

                                By Diane Gammon M.S.
                   Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now Open Full-Time: Days, Evenings, and Saturdays.

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)  
 

  CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!

 

We reinforce behaviors every day. 

The question is......... are you reinforcing positive and good behaviors or poor and negative behaviors?

The idea of any behavior (positive or negative) is to increase or strengthen the behavior. 

You can reward behaviors with something that a person likes ......such as giving candy to a child when they do their chores. This is a called a "behavior modifier". 

Later after the person is doing better, you gradually stop giving the reinforcement to them which is called "thinning" or an intermittent schedule of reinforcement.  

Make sure that you are only reinforcing positive behaviors and not negative. 

What you reinforce will continue.

                            By Diane Gammon MS

Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now Open Full-Time: Days, Evenings, and Saturdays.

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups for: Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Hopelessness, Trauma, PTSD, Abuse, and Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Stillbirth/ Infant loss)  

  Follow
Living With Hope Counseling 

     CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 

 

I have a lot of clients who ask me how they can attract a "good person"- thus, someone who is basically mentally healthy and not an emotional cripple when it comes to dating. 
 
This is what I tell individuals who would like to attract better for themselves:

You need to first take time out for yourself.

Take time out to heal and recover from a past relationship, heal and recover from a trauma, etc.

Seek counseling if need be------

Most of all- YOU NEED TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE WORTHY AND VALUABLE TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A "GOOD" PERSON!

Do not settle for what you really want in a relationship. 

Do not settle for anything except for God's best for you!

Be confident in who you are and be YOU!

Learn how to make yourself happy first! Do not "need" to be in a relationship! Do not depend on anyone else to make you happy.



                            By Diane Gammon MS

Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now Open Full-Time: Days, Evenings, and Saturdays.

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups  

 

  CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!

Happy Fathers Day to all of the fathers! 

If you do not have a father, I hope that you can look back on your life and be thankful to people who helped or inspired you growing up.

I hope that you all can enjoy Father's Day and appreciate those who have made a positive and loving impact in your life.

Psalm 68:5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

No matter your family situation, you DO HAVE a FATHER! You have a Heavenly Father! God our Father loves you very much and He is Always there for you! Pray to him today!

                         By Diane Gammon MS

Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now Open Full-Time: Days, Evenings, and Saturdays.

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups  

  Follow: 
Living With Hope Counseling   

Going through struggles can be very difficult.


However, if you open yourself up to growing and learning from the adversity, you can be blessed in ways that you never could have imagined. 

Sometimes we need to get down so low that it forces up to look up and gain a new perspective on our life and our problems. 

I used to get very stressed out during difficult times and now when they occur, I tell the Lord to 'grow me' and 'use me' with them. Having a Christ- like and positive attitude helps me through my difficult times and it helps me to look at my problems from a different view!  

Give it a try! After you change your thought process, after awhile- it will become your new normal response to trials!

 Follow us on Facebook for additional uplifting quotes!  
 
 CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!


 “Like/Follow” on Facebook- Living With Hope Counseling

Diane Gammon M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

(615) 556-8406

FREE Supports Groups Offered For Adults of All Ages
 Support groups are also for loved ones and family members

Depression, Feeling Hopeless, Anxiety, and Panic- Every 1st Saturday  at 10:00am- 11:15am- AND- Every 3rd Monday at 7:00pm- 8:15pm

Trauma, PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)- Every 2nd Saturday at 10:00am- 11:15am

Abuse Recovery- Every 1^st Saturday at 2:00pm- 3:15pm

Grief and Loss (Including Miscarriage/ Infant Loss, and Stillbirth)- Every 3rd Tuesday at

7:00pm- 8:15pm

Groups are every month and open-group.

Registration is required.

My Office is Located at Michael Loftis Counseling

2670 Memorial Blvd
   Suite E2
    Murfreesboro, TN 37129

MichaelLoftisLCSW.com

Fee Sliding Scale for Individual Counseling Sessions

There is ALWAYS HOPE and HEALING!!!!!!!!!!! 
Do Not Give Up!!!!!!!!

                             By Diane Gammon MS

Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now Open Full-Time: Days, Evenings, and Saturdays.

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups  

When we have hope, it sets our mind up to expect and to prepare ourselves for better things ahead. 



Think positive. Look for things to improve in your life. Have faith that God will turn things around in your life and use them for good no matter what they are!

Hope on the to concept of hope and surround yourself with people who will embrace this with you and watch your life change!

Seek professional help/ counseling if needed.

  Follow us on Facebook for more inspiration!

   CLICK HERE For Living With Hope Counseling Facebook Page AND "LIKE" IT!
 

     By Diane Gammon MS

Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Now Open Full-Time: Days, Evenings, and Saturdays.

Sliding Scale Fee for Individual Counseling Sessions 

Free Support Groups