At times we will all experience low mood and feeling down or depressed, this is normal and feeling this way for most people will pass. For those who have depression, these feelings will last longer or keep returning and will begin to impact their quality of life.
Depression touches all areas of life, when you have depression it can alter your thoughts, feelings, emotions and behaviours. It could lead to you not enjoying things or activities that you used to enjoy, and can make you want to withdraw from people or social events. It is more than simply feeling low or a bit fed up.
Symptoms
These will look different for individuals but common symptoms include;
Persistent low mood
Feelings of guilt
Low self-esteem
Having little or no motivation
Experiencing anxiety and worry
Physical symptoms such as headaches, aches & pains, stomach issues/constipation, inability to sleep, low energy
Avoiding people/social situations
Neglecting yourself, your health and hygiene
Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
What causes depression?
There are many factors that can cause depression and it is not linked to a single cause. It can occur as a result of circumstances or environment, for example, family or relationship breakdowns, loss of a job, divorce, bereavement, illness or experiencing a traumatic event. It could be a combination of reasons.
If you feel that you are experiencing depression then speak to your GP in the first instance.
Treatment
There are lots of different treatments available to help people experiencing depression. This could be a combination of medication, talking therapy and recommendations to improve general lifestyle through diet and exercise.
There are lots of resources available including videos, books, worksheets and group support, many of which you can access without charge.
Depression can feel very isolating and lonely, talking can really help you to better understand it and find ways of coping. If you would like to know more about how therapy can support you please get in touch.