We all feel sad, moody or low from time to time but some people experience these feelings intensely and for long periods of time. On average one in six people will be depressed at some stage of their lives. Depression is a serious condition that impacts emotional, cognitive and physical health with symptoms in a range of areas including:

 

• behaviour (withdrawing from family and friends, stopping doing enjoyable activities, not getting things done at work/school)
   

• concentration difficulties
   

• thoughts (“I’m a failure”, “nothing good ever happens to me”, “life’s not worth living,”)
   

• feelings (miserable, overwhelmed, guilty, pessimistic)
   

• physical issues (feeling tired all the time, no energy, changes in sleep and appetite, pain). 

 

Sometimes depression relates to how we perceive and understand our life’s story and ourselves. Faced with depression we might ask ourselves “What is it doing here? Does it have some necessary role to play?” Usually depression involves feeling stuck, helpless and a loss of hope, and that is why it is so important to seek professional help. 

 

Treatment for depression needs to take into account all these factors.

 

For more information see: