How can we help with Depression & Low Mood?

Experiencing Depression & Low Mood

The word depression is often used to describe the feeling of being sad or fed up which are a normal reaction to stressful or challenging situations. These feelings can last for a week or two but then recede without having a lasting effect on your life.

With true depression, the individual experiences low mood and other symptoms such as disturbed sleep, fatigue, change in appetite, poor concentration, restlessness, irritability, feelings of worthlessness, helplessness and pessimism every day for at least two weeks, with the symptoms interfering with day-to-day activities. It is thought that as many as 10% of the population may be suffering with depression to some extent.

Very often, you may have no idea why you feel so low and may feel too embarrassed to seek help, hoping that the feelings will recede at some time. This probably means that you suffer for longer than need be.

We can help to identify and gain insight into the underlying causes of your depression and help to change your perception of the cause and release any unwanted emotion. We can also help you to regain control of the situation by recognising and understand inappropriate or unhelpful responses and habitual behaviours and by identifying more proportional ways of thinking and feeling.

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Types of Depression & Low Mood

Major Depression

Sometimes the experience of persistent sadness and inability to feel interested in or find pleasure in any activity can be more intense and long-lasting. Day-to-day functioning and focus may feel impossible, and there is an increased risk of thoughts of death or suicide.

This period of depression may only be experienced once during a person’s life, however, during the individual’s life there may be evidence of more episodes.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

PDD is also known as dysthymic disorder. Whilst individuals experience fewer and less severe symptoms, they are constant and can last for several years. The person may have experienced others dismissing their experience, especially if they appear to be functioning well on the surface. PDD/Dysthymic disorder can develop in early life, with suffers believing that it is how everyone feels. It is important to recognise that this can change with the right support.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

If you have SAD, you’ll experience depression during particular seasons. You might find that your mood or energy levels drop when it gets colder or warmer or notice changes in your sleeping or eating patterns.

Many people notice their pattern of symptoms may typically start in autumn and last until spring, however it’s most common during the winter.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) can cause sufferers to experience severe swings of mood between intensely low and intensely elevated. The differing periods are known as either manic episodes (increased energy, high mood, irritability, racing thoughts, lack of concentration, fast talking, denial, little need for sleep, or feelings of super human powers) or depressive episodes (extreme sadness, fatigue, disrupted or extended sleep, change in appetite, lack of interest, helplessness or thoughts of death or suicide).

Postnatal Depression

Also known as postpartum depression, as many as 1 in 10 women can suffer depression within the first year after giving birth. Postpartum anxiety is even more common at 1 in 5 women. Post natal depression can also affect your partner, regardless of gender. Therefore, it is vital that you remember that you are not alone and seek help and support as soon as possible.

If you find you are feeling low for long periods, unable to switch your worried mind off, struggling with gaining a sense of control of your new role as a parent, seek external support. Reaching out for help shows tremendous strength, it shows you have insight into your situation and are ready to move forward.

The presence of a new baby is a major life change for everyone involved. It is understandable that you can feel daunted and overwhelmed by working out how to negotiate this “new normal” in the early days and weeks.

You can find out more about our ‘Post Natal Mental Health’ service here.

Self-harm & Suicidal feelings

Self-harm (self-injury) describes a wide range of things people deliberately do to themselves that appear to be harmful but usually not with the intention of ending their life. The behaviour could involve cutting their skin, burning, biting, hitting, taking an overdose, trichotillomania (hair pulling).

An adult or young person may self-harm to feel more in control or to punish themselves. However, it can be a way of relieving overwhelming feelings that build up inside, when they feel isolated, desperate or under pressure.

Self-harming behaviour is not usually about attention-seeking. Whether people have deep wounds or slight injuries, the problem they represent should always be taken very seriously. The size of the wound isn’t a measure of the size of the conflict inside.

Suicidal thoughts and feelings can be very confusing and frightening for the person experiencing them and other people in their life. Being able to explore these feelings and the reasons behind them helps bring relief from overwhelm. Remember you are not alone; we are here to listen.