Help for Depression and Low Mood

dEPRESSION

Depression is a common condition. It can present in varying degrees of seriousness.

 Psychiatrists refer to two types of depression:

 Endogenous depression which is thought to be a result of an internal biological source and exogenous depression which can be traced to an external trigger in a person’s life or reactive depression. 

Types of depression can include the following:

 ·  Unipolar depression where the sufferer feels melancholic and does not experience any highs.

 ·  Bipolar disorder which has extreme highs and lows which can be rapid or slower and less frequent. This type of depression can also have a high rate of suicide if left untreated. This condition can be helped by counselling but is a clinical condition and medication is often needed to reach a good life balance.

 ·  Major depression is where the sufferers seem down and apathetic about life. They may be disinterested in activities. This diagnosis is normally given after a sufferer has been feeling this way for at least two weeks.

 ·  Mild depression can make day to day life feel harder and there maybe feelings of life being unfulfilled. There may be depressive feelings around certain stressors.

 ·  Atypical depression is slightly different from major depression as the sufferer may experience happiness but feel fatigued, sleep excessively and/or be prone to overeating. This can last for months and sufferers can feel that external events control their moods.

 · Persistent depressive disorder sufferers can experience dysthymia and seem to be sad and melancholy but are not aware of the condition as it is ‘part of their life’. They may feel unimportant or dissatisfied and do not enjoy life. They may also have periods of major depression.

 · Psychotic depression where the sufferer tends to hear or see imaginary things. The hallucinations are not positive and are of a frightening negative nature.

 ·  Seasonal affective disorder can cause the person to experience big moods swings during different seasons of the year and are often affected worse by the winter months.

 · Postnatal depression is a condition that can happen soon after childbirth but not to be confused with baby blues. Postnatal depression usually starts during the first four to six weeks after childbirth but can occur slightly earlier or later. Sufferers may experience persistently swinging moods and a lack of interest in both themselves and their baby. They may also have less energy and low sex drive but these symptoms are not uncommon after giving birth.

 ·  Premenstrual dysphoric disorder occurs within the sufferer’s menstrual cycles at least part of the year and the symptoms are strongest in the final week before menses. The symptoms improve within a few days of menses and are minimal in the remaining weeks of the menstrual cycle.

 Symptoms of depression can be split into physical, behavioural and emotional or cognitive function. They can include but are not limited to the following symptoms:

Physical symptoms:

May include headaches, stomach aches, inexplicable aches or pains that have no other physical basis for their presence, fatigue, loss of energy, alterations to normal eating patterns by eating more or less than usual and alterations in sleep patterns which may include sleeping more or less than usual.

Behavioural symptoms:

 Can include a reduced interest in activities, reduced enjoyment of activities, reduced ability and difficulties in concentrating, difficulties making decisions that were not there before, neglecting responsibilities and neglecting personal appearance.

Emotional and cognitive systems may include feelings of apathy irritability pessimism, hopelessness, negativity, guilt and anxiety, suicidal thoughts of any type, strongly negative thoughts in relation to self or others or the world, feeling worthless and that there’s little point to life.

Other symptoms may include crying, feeling numb emotionally, rage or feeling like you have nothing to give. 

Depression illness is very common. In the UK the health and social care information centre (2009) survey showed that depression affected 3% of the population over the past 7 years although other studies would suggest this figure was closer to 22%. It can be almost twice as common in women as men.

Depression is diagnosed in all social age groups ranging from children to older adults with people in their 20s and 30s being more commonly diagnosed than first thought. A lot of people can benefit from psychotherapy or medication and many people find both extremely helpful. 

Depression may present in different ways and for a number of reasons, both chemically and emotionally. Counselling can help to provide links with your past and how you feel now. It will also help to challenge thoughts, feelings and behaviours in the here and now to help you to begin to lift your mood. Looking at the future and setting smart achievable targets is freeing and gives a sense of moving forward.