less stress/depression

Depression

Depression is a very common problem characterised by a pervasive feeling that you are unable to cope with life. It is an illness, not a sign of weakness.

It is not the same as feeling fed up or unhappy.

You may feel low at times due to life stresses, such as bereavement, money worries or difficulties in relationships.

This is normal and not necessarily a sign of depression.

People experiencing depression cannot just ‘snap out of it’ and often report that they cannot identify any particular event as a cause.

What can we do to help?

For most people, depression is very treatable. The most effective treatment is a combination of medication and talking therapy.

You may benefit from talking to an Open Door practitioner and you should also discuss how you are feeling with your doctor.

What are the symptoms of depression?

If you are depressed you may experience:

feeling sad, guilty, upset, numb or despairing
losing interest and/or enjoyment in things
crying a lot or being unable to cry when a truly sad event occurs
feeling alone even if you are in company
feeling angry or irritable about the slightest thing

The symptoms of depression can be complex and vary widely between people.

But as a general rule, if you're depressed, you feel sad, hopeless and lose interest in things you used to enjoy.

The symptoms persist for weeks or months and are bad enough to interfere with your work, social life and family life.

There are many other symptoms of depression and you're unlikely to have all of those listed below.

Psychological symptoms

The psychological symptoms of depression include:

continuous low mood or sadness
feeling hopeless and helpless
having low self-esteem
feeling tearful
feeling guilt-ridden
feeling irritable and intolerant of others
having no motivation or interest in things
finding it difficult to make decisions
not getting any enjoyment out of life
feeling anxious or worried
having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself

Physical symptoms

The physical symptoms of depression include:

moving or speaking more slowly than usual
changes in appetite or weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased)
constipation
unexplained aches and pains
lack of energy
low sex drive (loss of libido)
changes to your menstrual cycle
disturbed sleep – for example, finding it difficult to fall asleep at night or waking up very early in the morning

Social symptoms

The social symptoms of depression include:

not doing well at work
avoiding contact with friends and taking part in fewer social activities
neglecting your hobbies and interests
having difficulties in your home and family life

Severities of depression

Depression can often come on gradually, so it can be difficult to notice something is wrong. Many people try to cope with their symptoms without realising they're unwell. It can sometimes take a friend or family member to suggest something is wrong.

Doctors describe depression by how serious it is:

mild depression – has some impact on your daily life
moderate depression – has a significant impact on your daily life
severe depression – makes it almost impossible to get through daily life; a few people with severe depression may have psychotic symptoms

Grief and depression

It can be difficult to distinguish between grief and depression. They share many of the same characteristics, but there are important differences between them.

Grief is an entirely natural response to a loss, while depression is an illness.

People who are grieving find their feelings of sadness and loss come and go, but they're still able to enjoy things and look forward to the future.

In contrast, people who are depressed constantly feel sad. They don't enjoy anything and find it difficult to be positive about the future.

Read more about coping with grief and bereavement.

You may also experience physical symptoms such as: