We all have periods when we feel fed up, miserable or sad, indeed this is part of normal life. However when feelings such as these are worse than usual or don't seem to go away you may be suffering from depression. In its most extreme form, depression can be life threatening with thoughts of death and suicide.
Depression is in fact very common with over 1:10 of the population suffering at some stage.
Certain symptoms can help you decide that you're suffering from depression. These include:
Often we can see that after some bad news we become upset. However, this is not depression and is a normal reaction. However, sometimes such events lead to more serious and persistent low mood and ultimately depression.
Several factors can make an individual more likely to become depressed.
Several simple things can be done to help yourself and lessen the chance of developing depression:
Don't bottle things up. It can be helpful to talk to people close to you and sometimes to relive painful experiences, to have a good cry with them or to talk things through.
Do something physical and active. Exercise, although obviously good for the body is also equally good for the mind.
Eat a good balanced diet. Although this sounds like common sense, depression can often cause you to lose your appetite and run low in vitamins and minerals which can only make things worse.
Alcohol and drugs. Whilst these often seem like an easy way out, alcohol certainly makes depression worse and many drugs can have a similar effect.
Challenge negative thinking. It is important not to allow negative thoughts to ruin your life. Remember that depression and disease can interfere with your thought patterns. By being self aware of when your moods are low you can begin to challenge these thoughts. Writing down the unpleasant thoughts you get during the day and then trying to counter these by writing down several points against them can help. You can look back at what you have written in the future to remind you. Keeping a diary of the way that you are thinking and the moods you’re experiencing can also help you concentrate upon the good things. This may also show a pattern of particular times of the day when you are most likely to be low and help you combat your feelings at these times.
Talking treatments. These include counselling and therapies which are more than simply talking about your feelings (which may be helpful in itself). Often their aim is to explore and confront the reasons for your depression and to challenge negative thoughts. ‘Cognitive Therapy’ in particular is concerned with the practice of countering negative thinking. Talking can be particularly useful in adjusting to the death of somebody close to you.
Medication. Sometimes your doctor may suggest a course of antidepressants. These have been shown to be helpful for many people suffering from depression. It is very important to realise that antidepressants are not tranquillisers. Although as part of the way in which they work they may make you feel less anxious and agitated. They are not addictive and can be used along with counselling at the same time. Antidepressants work to make you feel less depressed by altering a variety of chemical reactions within the brain. In doing this they work fairly slowly and most people do not notice an improvement for 2-4 weeks and often they will need a much longer course - often 6-9 months. As with all medications, antidepressants have a variety of side-effects. Modern antidepressants such as fluoxetine have relatively few side-effects. Your doctor will discuss the side-effects of any medication he is suggesting.
Depression is one of the commonest illnesses doctors see and just like a chest infection or conjunctivitis, it is curable. So confide in your doctor - who will be pleased to help.
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice or substituted for professional advice. Always consult your doctor with your questions and concerns.
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