Depression Course

Depression
There are times when you feel down and might be able to snap out of it, but other times
you feel depressed, and it is more than feeling sad or just feeling down for a few days.
Depression causes a low mood that may last for a long time and affects you and your daily
life.
Depression is very common, and can range from mild to severe. Mild depression can make
you feel low, when you think everything is harder to do. Severe depression can lead to
feeling hopeless, helpless and in some cases suicidal. In the UK about 3 in every 100 people
will experience depression and 8 in every 100 will experience mixed depression and anxiety
in any given week.
Symptoms of depression
Depression affects people in different ways. It can affect your mind, body and behaviour, so
that some people may feel sad or hopeless. There is a range of other symptoms, such as:
Feeling:
 sad, upset or tearful

 guilty or worthless
 restless or irritable
 empty and numb
 lacking in self-confidence and self-esteem
 unable to enjoy things that usually bring you pleasure
 helpless or hopeless
 anxious or worried
 suicidal or want to hurt yourself (self-harm)
You might have physical symptoms such as:
 tiredness and lack of energy

 moving or speaking more slowly
 sleep problems: finding it hard to get to sleep or waking up very early
 changes in your weight or appetite
 constipation
 no sex drive and/or sexual problems
 unexplained aches and pains.
Your behaviour might change, where you:
 avoid other people, even your close friends

 find it hard to function at work, college, or school
 find it difficult to make decisions or think clearly
1
 be unable to concentrate or remember things.
In some cases, when the depression is severe, some people may experience psychosis. This
means they may see or hear things that are not there or believe things are not true.
Types of depression
When your doctor gives you a diagnosis, he/she may say that it’s mild, moderate or severe.
This depends on your symptoms. On the other hand, you may be diagnosed with a specific
type of depression, such as:
 dysthymia – mild depression that lasts for several years

 seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – which depression that comes and goes in a
seasonal pattern
 postnatal depression - is a depression that parents experience after having a baby.
Some people experience antenatal depression during pregnancy.
What causes depression?

There is no one answer, because Depression is a complex condition. There are different
factors that can lead to depression, such as:
 genetics – if you have a close relative with depression, you’re more likely to
experience depression yourself
 physical health problems
 childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect, or loss of family members
 stressful life events - unemployment, the end of a relationship, or being bullied or
assaulted.
Getting support
One of the first thing to do is to get support by speaking to your GP. The right treatment for
you will depend on the type of depression you have, and how severe it is. In fact, there
could be a combination of treatment that could involve self-help, talking therapies and
medication.
Self-help resources
Your GP may offer you self-help resources. These are often available quite quickly and may
be enough to help you feel better without trying other options. They include self-help
books, online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or group exercise classes – there is
evidence that exercise can help depression.
2
Talking therapies
Talking therapies involve speaking in confidence to a trained professional about your

feelings and worries. There are many different talking therapies that are recommended for
depression, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy,
psychotherapy, and counselling. Your GP can advise you about which one you may find most
helpful.
Medication
Another option is taking anti-depressants that can be offered by your GP who will know
which one might suit you best. You can take them on their own, or while having talking
therapy. You usually need to take them for one or two weeks before you start to feel the
benefit.
Ways you can look after yourself

If you’re depressed, there are steps you can take to lift your mood and help your recovery.
These steps can help if you’ve been depressed in the past and want to stay well.
 Talk about how you’re feeling. Talking to someone you trust; this can help you feel
better and less alone.
 Eat well. A healthy diet can often lift your mood and maintain your mental health.
 Staying physically active or doing exercise may feel like the last thing you want to do,
but it can ease the symptoms of depression. In fact, Research suggests it may be as
effective as antidepressants in helping you feel better.
 Why not spend time in nature. This can life your mood and make you feel much
happier, and reduce levels of depression
 Avoid cigarettes and alcohol. Taking them may feel like they’re helping at first, but
they in actual fact, in the long run, they make things worse!
 Try talking therapy to stay well.
At Connectedminds.ai there is help available for depression, and also from an intercultural
perspective. Why not talk to us today?
Roselle Thompson,
Behaviour and Intercultural Therapist

Depression Course

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Depression Course

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Depression Course

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Depression

 sad, upset or tearful

You might have physical symptoms such as:

 tiredness and lack of energy

Your behaviour might change, where you:

 avoid other people, even your close friends

 dysthymia – mild depression that lasts for several years

What causes depression?

Talking therapies involve speaking in confidence to a trained professional about your

Ways you can look after yourself

You might also like