Depression

Depression is a common mental health problem that causes people to experience low mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low    self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration.

 

Unlike the occasional bout of feeling sad, depression affects your daily life, making it hard for you to find enjoyment in day-to-day activities. Some days you may find it impossible to get out of bed, while other days you may feel more able to go about your normal daily tasks. Living with depression can be incredibly difficult, for both those suffering and those around them.

Due to the nature of the condition, however, seeking help can often be delayed; in some circumstances, you might not even notice that you have developed depression, especially if it has been a gradual process over a number of weeks or months. Sometimes it takes a friend, a family member or a partner to point out that you may have a problem.

 

Am I suffering from depression?

 

If you have at least five of the following symptoms, you may be suffering from depression:-

 

You may feel:

• worthless

• like life isn’t worth living

• constantly anxious, tearful and worried

• like you can’t concentrate

• indecisive

• irritable and intolerant of others

• you are not getting enough enjoyment out of life

• you have a lack of self-esteem

• you have excessive and inappropriate guilt

• you lack motivation or interest in things you used to enjoy

 

You may experience:

• changes in sleeping patterns - broken nights or oversleeping

• changes in eating patterns - loss of appetite or overeating

• tiredness and a loss of energy

• persistent headaches and/or stomach upsets

• chronic pain

• a slower speaking pattern than usual

• loss of libido

• for women, changes to menstrual cycle

 

You may also:

• neglect hobbies and interests

• isolate yourself from friends and family

• take part in fewer social activities

• notice your productivity falling at work

 

If you experience these symptoms for most of the day, every day, for more than two weeks, you should seek help from your GP.

 

It can present itself in different forms, including: 

 

Mild depression - when depression symptoms have a limited impact on daily life. Generally, sufferers of mild depression will experience a persistent low mood and spirit. They may find it difficult to motivate themselves to do things they normally enjoy.

 

Major (clinical) depression - A more severe form that can lead to hospital admission. Symptoms will be more prominent and interfere with daily life. They can affect eating habits, sleeping, and other day-to-day activities. Some sufferers may feel suicidal and that life is no longer worth living.

 

Bipolar disorder - A form of manic depression characterised by extreme highs and lows. For example, when a period of hyperactivity where sufferers are excited and planning overambitious tasks is followed by a period of severe depression.

 

Postnatal  (or postpartum) depression - A condition that can develop in women (and men) after the birth of a child or children.

 

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - A form that’s closely related to the length of days. It typically occurs in the autumn and winter months when the days are shorter. Symptoms tend to alleviate when the days get brighter and longer.

 

 

Causes

 

Depression is a complex condition and its causes are not fully understood. However, various contributing factors can lead to depression. These can be:-

 

• biological (e.g. genetic factors or experience of physical illness/ injury*)

 

• psychological (e.g. experiences dating back to childhood, especially those involving abuse or trauma)  

 

• social (e.g. relationship failure, loss of employment, bereavement or life-changing events such as pregnancy).

 

*Having a long-standing or life-threatening illness, such as heart disease, back pain or cancer, has been associated with an increased risk of depression.

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Treatment (s) for depression

 

Depression is a treatable condition, even in its most severe of form. A range of treatment options are available. The two most common treatment forms offered are talking therapies and medication. These are often used in combination - particularly in more severe cases.

 

There are various therapies recommended for treating depression according to guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and approved for delivery within the  government NHS initiative “Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme” (IAPT).

 

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is among these therapies.  It is based on the premise that the way we behave and think affects the way we feel. People with depression tend to have self-defeating thoughts that can lead to negative behaviour. CBT aims to help them identify and address these negative thoughts.

 

• Counselling for Depression (CfD) - is also a model of psychological therapy recommended by NICE for the treatment of depression

 

• Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) - this type of talking therapy is specifically designed to help those who suffer from recurring depression and combines elements of cognitive therapy and mindfulness techniques (breathing exercises and meditation) to help break negative thought patterns.

 

• Psychodynamic therapy - aims to find out how a person’s unconscious thoughts affect their behaviour. This type of therapy can help individuals understand and unravel their deep-rooted feelings and experiences.

 

• Group therapy - one of the main benefits of this type of therapy is the support network of peers that are going through the same sort of issues. It aims to encourage you to share your experiences and work on understanding yourself better.

 

• Art therapy - uses artistic mediums to help individuals explore their emotions in a new way. It uses art as a form of communication - this is especially good for those who find it difficult to verbalise their feelings.

 

All these therapeutic approaches for treating depression are offered by one or more of the counsellors and psychotherapists based at Archways Private Medical and Health Clinic

 

Medication

 

Alongside counselling, medication may be prescribed by GPs to help sufferers who are experiencing moderate to severe depression. Antidepressants can help to ease common depression symptoms such as poor sleep, low mood, and poor concentration. They can help sufferers to function better and can even increase the ability to deal with difficult situations if they arise. Such medication, however, is not effective for everybody and does not tackle the root cause alone. This is why counselling for depression is recommended in combination with medical intervention.