DEPRESSION
A Brief Overview Of Practical Information
By Caroline Daly
Depression can affect us all. Depression is not confined by gender, age, race, orientation or social background. It varies in severity, with the capacity to exhaust our usual character and vitality.
Recognising depression
Depression is characterised by many symptoms. If you are experiencing several of these symptoms (listed in the diagram below) for a continuous period of 2 weeks or more you may be experiencing depression.
The effects of depression
Depression affects a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It can be mild or severe, weakening or paralysing in its effects. The effects of depression can be both emotional and physical and can create more complications which further compound the symptoms of depression. Some of the effects of depression are outlined in the diagram. on the opposite page.
Why are we affected by depression?
For some of us depression can develop slowly over a period of weeks, months or years and for others it is can appear much faster, often following a sudden setback. Depression has many known causes or triggers.
As mentioned, it can develop after a traumatic life event such as bereavement, relationship breakdown, illness, abuse, an accident, a violent event or financial strain. Depression may also be rooted in other genetic, environmental or psychosocial reasons. Quite often we may struggle to pinpoint a specific or in fact any reason for our depression.
Coping with depression
If you are experiencing depression there are many ways in which you can try to improve your coping, including:
Do not deny the emotions you are experiencing: Many of us will struggle with extreme emotions at some point in our lives. There is no shame in feeling depressed. Consider accepting that you are finding life difficult at the moment and that you need to reach out to someone. You may find people are already concerned and are more than willing to offer you their support.
Speak with your GP or local healthcare professional: Confiding in another person will be the most important step you take. This can be a friend, co-worker, or ultimately a GP. Getting a definitive assessment is important in order to ensure you are on the right care pathway. If you are nervous about this you could ask a friend to accompany you to the GP visit.
Symptoms of
Depression
HealthMatters/September, 2013
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Part 1 of a 2 part series. Next article - How our thoughts, feelings and behavious are connected;
A brief introduction to cognitive behavioural theory. Read it in Issue 3