Depression is more prevalent in society than you might think
One in four people will experience depression in their lifetimes
Depression is common and can affect anyone. Everyone’s moods go up and down – it is part of life and part of being human. Sometimes you might feel low because of a life experience, grief or loss but those feelings generally lift over time and you start to feel yourself again.
If your low mood or sadness is affecting your ability to carry out day-to-day activities and enjoy life as you normally would, then it’s likely that you are depressed.
Depression occurs when feelings of extreme sadness, hopelessness and/or despair last for a period of time and interfere with daily living and activities. Depressed individuals sometimes feel helpless and hopeless and blame themselves for having these low feelings. Some people with depression feel unmotivated and unenthusiastic about the future. Some may have thoughts of death, dying or suicide.
What causes depression?
The causes of depression can vary from individual to individual. Common causes can include a physical illness, historical issues dating back to childhood, current life events and situations, hormonal imbalances, poor diet and lifestyle, misuse of alcohol and/or drugs, family problems and relationship difficulties. A life event or transition that is hard to cope with can trigger depression, as can an experience of significant loss – whether you’ve lost someone close to you, your job or your home. Thinking negatively facilitates low moods resulting in a cycle of low mood caused by negative thoughts.
Symptoms of depression can vary and affect people in different ways. People can feel a severe lack of motivation that negatively impacts every day functioning and the ability to carry out daily activities and enjoy life.
There may be an absence of desire for life or an inability to engage with others on any level. Some symptoms of depression can include a sense of prolonged sadness and hopelessness which can manifest itself into physical symptoms such as not sleeping or eating properly or not looking after yourself. Self-care is sometimes a challenge for people struggling with depression.
You may feel less confident, have low self esteem or feel anxious. You may be feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or irritable, or isolate and withdraw yourself, avoiding friends and family. Some people with depression describe a feeling of failure, self-blame and being locked in negative thoughts.
Counselling for depression is one way to alleviate these low moods
Counselling for depression provides a safe and supportive environment where you can share your thoughts and issues with a trained, professional psychotherapist. A therapist will help you to reflect on what may be contributing to negative and distorted thoughts and feelings and enable you to consider methods to alleviate and manage your depression.
There are a number of effective talking treatments that can successfully treat depression. Counselling can help you to get in touch with the reasons behind your low mood and find new ways of looking at yourself and the world around you. Anxiety and depression are often linked and psychotherapy is pivotal in helping to work out whether a client is experiencing anxiety and depression and treat both if this is the case.
Therapists can assist with a range of problems causing low moods and depression, including problems with relationships, losing a loved one, or getting used to a life change or new situation. Psychotherapy can help with processing emotions and the impact of events or underlying issues that causes being stuck in low moods.
Talking through issues and exploring your thoughts and feelings can give you the power to resolve issues and express and process your emotions in a healthier way.
Therapy provides an opportunity to consult with a trained professional who can give you extra support, an outside perspective and expert guidance to pinpoint life problems that contribute to your depression and work with you to better understand , improve and solve these issues.
Therapy is led by you, and through therapy you will gain some understanding and awareness of the impact depression is having on your life. You can make changes and make choices to improve your life and nurture a more positive outlook. A psychotherapist can help you to regain a sense of control, better manage your own symptoms and keep yourself grounded. With the help of a therapist, you can successfully address low moods that may be impacting your life.
Find out more about depression counselling in Brighton.
Or you may be interested to read more about personal therapy for depression, unhappiness and low moods.
