Signs and Symptoms of Depression
What is depression?
Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders in the UK, and the statistics of people suffering with this mental health condition have soared since the Coronavirus pandemic. According to Champion Health, depression affects 1 in 6 adults in the UK.
Everyone feels sad from time to time for a variety of reasons, and these tend to be circumstantial. Perhaps you received some disappointing news, feel stressed and overworked, had an argument with a friend, or simply just feel run down. These feelings are valid, and are a normal response to those situations. This kind of sadness usually passes within a few hours or days.
Depression, however, tends to persist long-term. You start to lose interest in activities that usually bring you joy, i.e. hobbies, spending time with family and friends, and may struggle to feel joy even if you continue doing the aforementioned things. You feel tired all of the time, and lack the energy to take care of yourself. Over time, depression starts to impair our day-to-day functioning and ability to cope.
What are some of the signs and symptoms?
Symptoms include (but aren’t necessarily limited to):
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Lack of energy, feeling beyond exhausted
- Neglecting self care (fuelling your body with healthy food, washing yourself, exercising, etc)
- Trouble concentrating and making decisions (brain fog)
- Eating too much or too little
- Difficulty experiencing joy/pleasure
- Withdrawal from social contact
- Thoughts of suicide and/or self harm
- Feeling hopeless about the future
- Feeling empty
- Dissociation/feeling detached from the world
- Moving or talking more slowly
Like any mental health condition, symptoms of depression vary from person to person. Depression is a serious illness that can pose danger to life, and should be taken seriously at all levels.
What causes depression?
There are various causes of depression. It could be caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain, ongoing stress, anxiety, family history (if depression runs in your family, you are at a higher risk of developing it too), trauma, life events such as losing a loved one, other medical health conditions, substance abuse or chronic pain.
It’s worth noting that depression may be a symptom of other mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, postnatal depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and personality disorders.
When to seek help
When the symptoms start to impact your day-to-day functioning, it is best to act straight away. Many people ignore the signs and symptoms until they become unable to cope. By seeking help as soon as possible, this prevents the condition from worsening. If you are in need of urgent help, visit the NHS website.
How is depression treated?
Similar to other mental health disorders, there are practical steps that can be taken to alleviate symptoms of depression (though these steps typically won’t be enough to replace therapy and/or medication). These steps include eating a balanced diet, regular exercise, avoiding alcohol and substances if possible (alcohol tends to worsen mood disorders), and prioritising self -care.
Therapy and medication can be effective ways to treat depression. Most people respond well to a combination of the two, however there are some who do not wish to take medication, or don’t respond well to it.
At North East Counselling and Therapy, we offer a range of mental health services. A common form of psychotherapy that can be especially effective is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, also known as CBT. CBT focuses on how thoughts and feelings can influence our behaviour.
Our qualified counsellors and psychotherapists will work with you to unpack these thoughts and develop coping mechanisms you can utilise to cope with depression.
We understand that the thought of starting counselling or therapy and talking to someone about the issues you are experiencing can be daunting. With this in mind, our practice is designed to ease stress and apprehension. Our appointments are carried out in a comfortable and professional environment across our two locations in Durham.
Contact us to set up an initial 60 minute assessment session, where we will work together to identify which form of therapy is right for you.