Why Young Adults Might Be Depressed
Young adulthood is one of the most stressful times in life. Young adulthood, recently termed emerging adulthood, is a life stage between adolescence and adulthood typically for individuals between 18-29 years old. Young adulthood is full of life transitions. Young adults are experiencing transitions in living and moving to new places, starting college or a career, changing jobs, and having serious dating relationships before committing to a partner.
All of this can create stress and lead to depression and self-esteem issues in young adults. Young men in particular struggle during this stage. For the first time in many young adults’ lives, it's unscripted. Up to graduation, there seemed to be a clear path. You go to elementary, middle, and high school. You know that you will graduate and go to college. While there are questions in college related to what you're going to do and be a part of, there is still a general plan to pick a major and graduate. This time period is the most unstable in any person's life.
Around the junior or senior year of college, many young men start to feel stressed. The pressure of finding the right internship looms, and many adults start to process bigger questions related to life. You may be asking yourself, "What do I really want to do?", "What kind of life do I want to live?", or "I could go anywhere or do anything, how do I know what is right?" These questions pose unique life challenges for young adults.
Life Transitions Can Increase Depression
It is estimated that the likelihood of having a mood disorder is greater than 40% for 18-29-year-olds. Understanding why life transitions experienced in this period of life may lead to depression is important in possibly preventing a mood disorder for emerging adults.
Changes in Living Arrangements
Many emerging adults are moving to a new city, like Atlanta, Ga, for the first time to begin a new job. Moving cities is one of the hardest things that anyone can do. Many move away from friends and family. Young adults wonder if they should live on their own or with roommates. They may have lived with several friends in college, and this period can be jolting.
Coming home to a lonely apartment can increase depression because of the increased isolation that a young man experiences. It might be the first time that an emerging adult has to spend extended time by himself and it can affect his mental health. The loneliness that a young adult experience at this time is challenging because it doesn't always make sense. He can be extremely busy at work all day and look forward to getting home to relax, but once he does arrive home he feels empty. Emerging adults need connections with others. This change in living arrangements can cause young adults to feel depressed.
Changes in Education and Career
Young adults, especially in Atlanta, Ga, can experience frustration in finding where they fit in. Whether they are continuing their education at universities like Georgia Tech or Georgia State or starting a career for the first time, there can be challenges for emerging adults in adapting to their role at work or school. One of the biggest challenges that young people face is wondering if the job or education that they have chosen is fulfilling to them.
Many adults feel down when they feel like their career isn't satisfying. They work long hours and have put in many years of schooling, but they aren't sure if they want to spend the next 30-40 years in the same job. Young adults believe that they are supposed to have their careers set the moment they graduate. Many feel pressure to find the "dream job", and when it doesn't seem to be happening, adults may notice an increase in depression.
Changes in Relationships
One prominent psychologist said that the biggest challenge young adults face is developing intimacy or experiencing isolation. Young adults are questioning if they want to casually date, settle down with a partner, or live an independent life. Others may be questioning their sexual orientation which causes an added dimension of stress, anxiety disorders, and potential depression. Young adults want to know if they are making the right decision and are afraid of making the wrong choice.
The pressure to get it "right" in relationships as well as make a lifelong commitment can be paralyzing for young men. Others might feel depressed because they feel "behind" in relationships. Many feel the pressure to find their dream partner in their twenties. This pressure can be paralyzing and foster thinking in a negative way called a negative spiral.
Search for Meaning and Purpose
Another potential cause for depression is the search for meaning and purpose. Many people are questioning the bigger issues of life and purpose, but especially in this life stage. Emerging adults are contemplating existential issues about the meaning and purpose of life. They are wondering how they can live a life of fulfillment and joy.
The monotony of life feels overwhelming doing the same thing day in and day out. They want to live a richly satisfying life. They want to find fulfillment in their jobs, relationships, and the place where they live. Some are wondering about faith and what they believe in. They are trying to understand if faith is for them and how to navigate faith in God. Having so many questions can contribute to something called "existential dread" which can lead to anxiety disorders and depression.
Meeting With a Licensed Professional Counselor Can Help
Many young adults are looking for depression counseling. Atlanta can be a challenging place to navigate the instability of emerging adulthood. A mental health professional can really help a young adult navigate these complex questions in a confidential environment. In counseling, young adults can find their authentic selves by exploring why they are feeling depressed and what they want in and out of their lives. Depression counseling can help young adults develop effective coping skills and escape from the dark cloud that seems to be hanging over their heads.
Meeting with a depression therapist in Atlanta, Georgia can help promote positive growth by providing a safe space to talk about what is going on in a young adult’s life and creating a path to a satisfying and fulfilling life.
How Ember Counseling Atlanta Supports Depression
Ash Blanton, Depression Therapist in Atlanta, GA
Ash Blanton, at Ember Counseling Atlanta, is a licensed professional counselor working with adolescent, college, and young adult men struggling with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, depression, as well as ADHD, and addiction including substance abuse. Ember Counseling Atlanta provides clients with a confidential environment to process the obstacles and challenges of life in a safe space.
Don't wait to begin depression counseling! You deserve a life of happiness and fulfillment. Counseling can help! Book a free 15-minute consultation today. By filling out the form online, our admin assistant, Courtney will reach out to schedule a 15-minute consultation with Ash to talk a little bit about what is going on for you and answer any questions that you might have about the counseling process. begin your journey today!
Start Depression Counseling in Atlanta, GA
As a young adult, depression can be a disruption to your self-esteem and affect your new life transitions. You don’t have to face your depression alone. At my Atlanta, GA counseling practice, you can find the additional support and coping skills needed with therapy for young adults with depression. Follow these simple steps to get started:
Contact us to set up a free consultation.
Begin teen counseling for anxiety with Ash Blanton, Depression Therapist in Atlanta, GA
Begin to break free from your depression.
Other Counseling Services at Ember Counseling Atlanta
Depression counseling isn’t the only service I offer at my Atlanta, GA counseling practice. I provide in-person and online counseling services in Atlanta, GA including anxiety therapy, teen counseling, and family counseling. I also provide an Intensive Three-Day Counseling Workshop for those who want to speed up the healing process. Check out Ember Counseling Atlanta’s blog and FAQs for more information!
