There is a difference between feeling low and being clinically depressed, how I hear you say, well let me explain.
Most people go through periods of feeling down, but when you’re clinically depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days.
They range from lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness, to losing interest in the things you used to enjoy and feeling very tearful. Many people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety. So sometimes it can feel like your “get up and go, gets up and buggers off”.
Other symptoms of depression could 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
Half of the battle is understanding what is going on for you and that you are not alone there are people you can speak to and places you can go so you don’t feel alone in your struggle. People don’t tend to feel low for no reason and sometime it could be down to a medical issue so something completely out of your hands.
If you feel like your depressed the first point of call is go make an appointment at you GPs, this is what they get paid for so don’t ever feel like your wasting their time they want you to go to them this is what they trained for remember.
Lets look at this differently ok, if you broke your leg would you seek medical help ? if you had the flu or a chest infection would you seek medical help ?? IT’S THE SAME THING !! just because you cant see it, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist
What Can I do To Help Myself??
1) Don’t bottle things up – find someone to talk to about how you are feeling.
2) Make sure you get plenty of exercise and plenty of fresh air. You will find that even if you do a quick walk every day and a short period of other exercise each day you will start to feel physically and emotionally stronger and more able to cope.
3) Make sure you eat a healthy balanced diet – eat little and often and don’t skip meals. If you are not eating properly you will feel more depressed and listless.
4) Try and keep busy – to keep your mind occupied.
5) Do things you enjoy to relax, treat yourself and take care of yourself.
6) Try and get to bed at a regular time. If you find it difficult to sleep listen to the radio/TV/read and you may find you drop off to sleep more easily.
7) Don’t resort to unhealthy ways of dealing with your problems like drinking, taking drugs, cutting, eating disorders.
8) Ask for help when you need it.
9) Try to stop thinking in a negative way – when you think a negative thought try and replace it with a positive one.
10) If you need a hug ask someone you trust – this can make you feel that someone really does care how you are feeling.