Sadness or downswings in mood are normal reactions to life’s struggles, setbacks, and disappointments. Many people use the word “depression” to explain these kinds of feelings, but dealing with depression is much more than just sadness. It is a mental health issue, which affects your behaviour, feelings, energy and thinking.
Some people describe dealing with depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom. Others might not feel sad at all—they may feel lifeless, empty, and apathetic, or men in particular may even feel angry, aggressive, and restless.
Whatever the symptoms, depression is different from normal sadness in that it engulfs your day-to-day life, interfering with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun. The feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are intense and unrelenting, with little, if any, relief.
But no matter how hopeless you feel, you can get better. Understanding the signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression is the first step to overcoming the problem.
Signs That Your Are Dealing With Depression:
Depression has eight main symptoms. The more symptoms you have (usually five or more), the stronger they are, and the longer they’ve lasted — the more likely it is that you’re living with depression. The symptoms of depression are:
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Feeling sad, anxious or bored
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Low energy, feeling tired or fatigued
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Under-sleeping or over-sleeping, waking frequently during the night
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Poor concentration, thinking slowed down
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Loss of interest in hobbies, family or social life
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Low self-esteem and feelings of guilt
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Aches and pains with no physical basis, e.g. chest, head or tummy pain associated with anxiety or stress
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Loss of interest in living, thinking about death, suicidal thoughts
Causes Of Depression:
Depression has a number of possible causes. For some people, it happens because of a traumatic life event such as bereavement, relationship breakdown, financial difficulties or bullying. For others, depression can be triggered by stress, loneliness, or health problems. In other situations, the person may have an inherent tendency towards depression because of family history. Such genetic factors can be key in the case of bipolar disorder.
Treatment For Depression:
There are a number of treatment options available for depression. The best and most appropriate treatment option depends on the individual case, the cause of depression and the severity of symptoms. Generally, treatments usually come under two main headings: medication and talking therapies. In some cases, a combination of both might be the most appropriate treatment plan for that individual.
Here at Centric Mental Health, we have Irelands largest network of Counselling and Psychology clinics and we can offer a variety of well-established psychological approaches to help alleviate depression. Our psychologists can direct you to the most effective treatment plan for dealing with depression and any other mental health complication that you may be suffering from.
Written by Dr Jayne Grimes, PSI. Jayne is a Counselling Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. Jayne has trained and practiced as a Counselling Psychologist within a range of settings in the UK and Ireland for over twelve years. She has worked for many years in the NHS, including in primary care and outpatient settings as well as a specialist trauma service and a forensic service.
Centric Mental Health are the leading provider of private mental health services in Ireland and are an Irish owned company. Our team of psychologists and psychotherapists are experts in their fields and offer top notch care to our clients. If you’d like to seek therapy or have any further questions about treatment, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or call us at 01 611 1719.