Depression is the most common mental health problem worldwide, so it's likely that at some point in our lives, we or someone we know will be diagnosed with it.
It can be difficult to recognise when we're struggling and it can be tempting to just brush it off as a 'bad day.'
But mental health is just as important as our physical health, and just as we'd go to the doctor if we had the flu, it's important we look after our mental health too.
So here are the symptoms you should look out for if you or a loved one is suffering and find out what you can do to help:
What is depression?
Depression is a mental health disorder that causes people to experience feelings of low mood, loss of interest in activities, lack of self-worth and low self-esteem.
Depression can also have physical implications, such as disturbed sleep and appetite and low energy.
Whilst its normal to feel low from time to time, depression is the persistent surfacing of these negative feelings, so don't ignore them.
What are the symptoms of depression?
Some of the symptoms to look out for are:
- loss of self-confidence and self-esteem
- persistent feelings of sadness
- fatigue
- difficulty concentrating
- loss of pleasure in typically enjoyable activities
- feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
- feeling anxious all the time
- loss of appetite
- loss of sex drive
- thoughts about suicide or death
- self-harm
- avoiding or being distance with other people, including family and friends
- difficulty in doing day to day things, such as waking up and getting dressed
- dependence on alcohol or other substances
How can I seek help if I think I have depression?
Visit your GP and they can advise you on treatment. This will usually come in the form of talking therapies, anti-depressants or a combination of both.
Some forms of counselling and psychotherapy are available on the NHS, but there are usually long waiting lists so how quickly you receive their service will depend on how high they prioritise you.
You can also get various forms of talking therapies through private services. These include:
- COUNSELLING: counselling gives you the chance to talk about day-to-day issues that are affecting your behaviour. Rather than telling you what to do, the counsellor will encourage you to talk about what's bothering you.
- COGNITIVE THERAPY: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) aims to deal with overwhelming problems in a logical way by breaking them down into smaller parts. This kind of therapy focuses on problems in your present, rather than focusing on issues from your past.
- PSYCHOTHERAPY: As opposed to counselling, psychotherapy draws insights from emotional problems and looks at long-term solutions.
What are some self help techniques for depression?
Alongside professional help, there are also steps you can take to help yourself.
- GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP: Getting too much or too little sleep can massively impact your mood. Set yourself a regular sleeping pattern where you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
- EAT WELL: as the saying goes, you are what you eat, so eating a balanced diet can help improve your mood as well as making you feel good on the inside.
- DO WHAT YOU LOVE: Every time you feel overwhelmed or down, take some time for yourself to do what gives you joy. This doesn't have to be anything big, but even picking up a book can give you that crucial time to relax and switch off from the world.
How can I help a loved one with depression?
Living with someone who has depression can put a strain on you as you're constantly worrying about their wellbeing and whether or not you're saying and doing the right things.
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SUPPORT THEM TO GET HELP: As much as you wish you could, you can't force someone to get help. The best you can do is give them the resources and support them through the process, for example, offering to visit the GP with them.
- BE OPEN ABOUT DEPRESSION: There's no use walking on eggshells with the mindset of "they'll get over it eventually." Depression is a life-long disorder and ignoring it will only make the problem worse and what's more so make time to talk to your loved one frankly about how they're feeling.
- ACT NORMALLY: Whilst it's important to chat about mental health, it's also equally important to treat them as you always have. Laugh over coffee and binge-watch films of a Friday as you always have - that way neither of you feels pressure to act a certain way.
- SELF-CARE: You're going to be pretty useless to someone who has depression if you're wellbeing is suffering too. It's important to take a break every now and again and remind yourself that as much as you may love that person, you have a life that matters, too.
Where can I get more information about depression?
You can get further help and support about depression by visiting these websites:
