What about Depression?

The word ‘depressed’ is used frequently. For those battling the awful illness that is depression - its affects can be truly debilitating.

Anyone trying to manage this condition will have an experience that varies depending on the type of depression, its severity and the individual themselves. This is why it can be hard to diagnose initially.

Whilst these challenges may feel insurmountable, we all have resources that therapeutic work can tap into in order to adopt new coping strategies and begin the journey to feeling better and stronger.

Main symptoms may include;

Low mood, loss of interest and pleasure
Agitation, frustration or irritation
'Avoidant' or 'numb' feeling or perhaps isolation
Often a weakened voice
Feelings of anger, shame, guilt or despair
Anxiety
Low self-esteem - in the extreme, a feeling of worthlessness.

You may be unable to remember things or make decisions. You may feel unable to complete tasks or formulate thoughts. These symptoms can often feed off each other.

Physical symptoms can include;

'System Issues' - Digestive, Respiratory, Muscular, etc
Pains such as headaches, muscle, joint pain and/or chest pain.
Fatigue is common and can be debilitating, even after a long sleep.
Affected sleep; both sleeping a great deal (hypersomnia) or experiencing insomnia.
Dry or affected skin
Affected sex drive
A feeling of sluggishness and lack of coordination
Affected appetite; eating too much or too little

Depression is currently split into episodic (likely caused by an event) or biological (no apparent trigger). Here is an overview of common depressive illness:

Mild – You can continue with your daily life despite feeling low and empty. Despite the word ‘mild’, this can feel unsurmountable.

Moderate – You find that daily activities are impaired, affecting work and home life. Often people find they externally demonstrate behaviours and body language that supports the diagnosis.

Major/Severe – Pervasive low. Uninterested in daily activities. Often disabling in nature. You may feel emotionless, indifferent and withdrawn. Weight gain or loss is common. People report feeling sluggish, feeling extremely fatigued and struggle to formulate thoughts or words.

There are other depressive illnesses such as bipolar, postnatal/prenatal depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Please always consult your GP as a first point of contact if you are concerned that you are experiencing these symptoms. Counselling or psychotherapy are powerful in supporting the management of depressive illness. However, it should be noted that counselling would form part of a treatment plan that includes GP support.