Mental Health 6: Depression

Hello my beautiful friends!

As mentioned in my previous post, today's post is going to be a depression factfile. All of the information in this post has been researched and I will reference the websites used at the end of the post. Again, if you believe you have depression, I recommend visiting your GP to access the necessary help and support. Like my previous post, this post will be separated into the categories definition, symptoms, causes, treatment and contacts.

Definition
The Oxford English Dictionary defines depression as "A mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep."

Symptoms
Like anxiety, symptoms of depression can be split into two categories: mental and physical as well as social. Mental symptoms include

• Low mood and sadness
• Feeling hopeless and helpless
• Low self-esteem
• Feeling tearful
• Feeling guilty
• Feeling irritable
• Having no motivation or interest in things
• Indecisiveness
• Feeling anxious or worried
• Suicidal thoughts and self harm

Physical symptoms can include

• Moving or speaking slower than usual
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Constipation
• Aches and pains
• Lack of energy
• Low sex drive
• Changes to your menstrual cycle
• Disturbed sleep

Social symptoms can include

• Underachieving at school or work
• Not taking part in social activities
• Losing interest in hobbies
• Difficulties with home and family life

Causes

Causes of depression are individual; however, common causes include

• Bereavement
• Stress
• Personality
• Family history
• Giving birth (this is known as postnatal depression)
• Loneliness
• Alcohol and drug abuse

Treatment

Depending on the severity of your depression, your GP may recommend different treatments. If you have mild depression, you GP may recommend lifestyle changes and self-help to reduce your depressive feelings. These include

• Regular exercise
• Self-help groups
• Self-help books and online resources
• Apps

If your depression is slightly more severe, your GP may recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I mentioned this form of psychological treatment in my anxiety factfile. Generally, it involves changing your thought process, so changing negative thoughts into positive thoughts.

If your depression is very severe, your GP may recommend antidepressants. These can be effective; however, similar to all treatments, the effectiveness can differ from person to person. There are 30 different types of antidepressant, so you may need to try a few before you find the medication that suits you. Never give up with your treatment. You will find the best treatment for you, even if it takes a bit of perseverance.

Contacts

Whilst raising mental health awareness, I believe providing contacts for those who believe they are suffering with a mental health problem so, so important. Here are some useful contacts and do not be afraid to contact them if you do need the help.

• Samaritans (for everyone) 116 123
• Papyrus (under 35s - Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, weekends 2pm-10pm and bank holidays 2pm-5pm) 0800 068 41 41
• Childline (under 19s) - 0800 1111

If you or anyone you know is experiencing depression, it is so important to tell someone. If you are suffering, visit your GP to gain the relevant help and support. If someone you know is suffering, speak to a parent or teacher or even them about how they are feeling. They may be grateful that you have reached out.

As mentioned in my previous post, I hope to write more mental health factfiles in the future. I hope this can help at least one person. I am sending so much love and support to you. Would more of these mental health posts be useful? I think it's really important to raise awareness, so let me know what you think.

Sources
NHS
Mind
Rethink Mental Illness