DEPRESSION
WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
Does this resonate with you? A persistent feeling of sadness or low mood. It can be to the point that you have lost interest and enthusiasm for things you used to enjoy.
​
Experiencing cycles of depression can impact every area of your life, leaving you feeling isolated, uninspired and an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness.
If this sounds like how you’ve been feeling, turn to our resources page or better still, book an appointment with your GP. This might sound like a draining task at the moment, reach out to a friend or a loved one to help you.
​
When everything feels too much, this can feel like a good next step.
DEPRESSION UNPICKED
When you see your doctor, they should ask you to complete a 2-week journal, this helps them to evaluate your mood over 14 days - enough time to assess the type of depression you might be experiencing. They will then complete a questionnaire to understand your level of depression based on this mix of symptoms:
IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO INSIST THAT YOUR DOCTOR AGREES FOR YOU TO COMPLETE THE 2 WEEK JOURNAL, SO YOU CAN GIVE THEM ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO PRESCRIBE THE RIGHT HELP.
A NOTE ON MEDICATION
You should have regular check-ins scheduled with your GP about how anti-depressants are working for you. If your diagnosis is severe, this check-in should be every 2 to 4 weeks..
​
Wherever possible, exploring the types of therapy available to you (Counselling, CBT, EMDR and others) to be used alongside medication can be an effective way to treat immediate symptoms and long-term management of depression.
​
This might sound scientific - but it should be, this is an illness and deserves the same medical thinking that a blood pressure issue should. It’s a really good thing that we have this amount of science around depression.
When experiencing depression, you may feel a lack of hope and find it hard it hard to think about the future because the present has blurred with the past and become all-consuming.
Hopelessness is a big obstacle to overcome alone - “I’ve felt this way for so long - why try anymore”. This creates distance between the the individual and help, whether that help is in the form of GPs, reaching out to friends, therapy. That’s reaching out is so important, actively keeping in touch and being that beacon of hope.
It’s super important we look to get ourselves ‘above that line’ where we feel better again, and then concentrate in keeping above and beyond that line going forward.
​
1. MOVEMENT
2. THERAPY
3. NUTRITION
4. CREATIVE ACTIVITIES
5. REACHING OUT
6. SEEK MEDICAL HELP
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re not feeling like your usual self. You might be feeling alone, lost, angry or scared. Please remember that you haven’t always felt like this. Whatever you’re feeling right now will pass. It might be in a few moments, hours or even days - but you will feel differently. This feeling will change.
YOU WILL FEEL HAPPY AGAIN.
