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Depression -
The symptoms of depression can be complex. If you are depressed, you often lose interest in things you used to enjoy. Depression commonly interferes with your work, social life and family life. There are many other symptoms, which can be psychological, physical and social.
Psychological symptoms include:
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continuous low mood or sadness
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feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
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tearfulness
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feelings of guilt
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feeling irritable and intolerant of others
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lack of motivation and little interest in things
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difficulty making decisions
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lack of enjoyment
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suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself
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feeling anxious or worried
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Physical symptoms include:
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slowed movement or speech
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change in appetite or weight (usually decreased, but sometimes increased)
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constipation
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unexplained aches and pains
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lack of energy or lack of interest in sex
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changes to the menstrual cycle
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disturbed sleep patterns (for example, problems going to sleep or waking in the early hours of the morning)
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Social symptoms include:
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not doing well at work
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taking part in fewer social activities and avoiding contact with friends
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reduced hobbies and interests
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difficulties in home and family life
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It can take some time to recognise that you may be depressed. Depression may come on gradually and some people continue to deal with the symptoms without recognising them. It can take a friend or family member to suggest that something is wrong.
Grief and depression
Even though grief and depression share many of the same characteristics, there are important differences between them. Grief is an entirely natural response to a loss, while depression is an illness. However, sometimes it can be hard to distinguish between feelings of grief and depression.
People who are grieving find that feelings of loss and sadness come and go, but they are still able to enjoy things and look forward to the future. However, people who are depressed have a constant feeling of sadness. They do not enjoy anything and have little sense of a positive future.
Common causes of depression
There is no single cause of depression, and people develop depression for different reasons.
Depression has many different triggers. For some people, upsetting or stressful life events, such as bereavement, divorce, illness, redundancy and job or money worries, can be the cause. Usually, different causes combine to trigger depression. For example, you may feel low after an illness and then experience a stressful life event, such as bereavement, which leads to depression.
People often talk about a 'downward spiral' of events that leads to depression. For example, if a person's relationship with their partner breaks down, they are likely to feel low, they may stop seeing friends and family, and they may start drinking more. All of this can make them feel even worse and trigger depression.
Some studies have suggested people are more likely to get depression as they get older and that it is more common among people who face difficult social and economic circumstances.
Depression is complex and a number of things can increase the risk of developing it.
Stressful life events
Most people take time to come to terms with stressful events, such as bereavement or a relationship breakdown. When these stressful events happen, you have a higher risk of becoming depressed if you stop seeing friends and family and try to deal with problems on your own.
Illnesses
You may have a higher risk of depression if you are diagnosed with a chronic or life-threatening illness, such as coronary heart disease or cancer.
Head injuries are also an often under-recognised cause of depression. A severe head injury can trigger mood swings and emotional problems.
Even a minor head injury can damage the pituitary gland, which is a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain that produces thyroid-stimulating hormones (chemicals). This can cause a number of symptoms, such as fatigue (extreme tiredness) and a decreased interest in sex, which can lead to depression.
Personality traits
You may be vulnerable to depression due to certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem or being overly self-critical . This may be due to genes you have inherited from your parents, or your personality or early life experiences. These can all have a profound effect on the way you think about yourself in later life.
Family history of depression
Research shows that some genes increase the risk of depression after a stressful life event.
Giving birth
Some women are particularly vulnerable to depression after pregnancy. The hormonal and physical changes, as well as the added responsibility of a new life, can lead to postnatal depression.
Social isolation
Becoming cut off from family and friends may increase your risk of depression, or it may be a response to feeling depressed as the downward spiral takes hold.
Alcohol and drugs
Substance abuse can be a cause of depression. Use of drugs, such as cannabis and cocaine, can also lead to feelings of depression. Some people try to cope by drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs. This can result in a spiral of depression. The isolation, alcohol or drugs make you feel worse about yourself, and in response you isolate yourself and drink or take drugs even more.
Treatments, Hypnotherapy and Cognitive Therapy for Depression
Treatment for depression involves either medication or talking treatments, or commonly a combination of the two. The kind of treatment that your doctor recommends, will be based on the type of depression you have.
Analytical Hypnotherapy such as Pure Hypnoanalysis has shown to be particularly helpful in uncovering the root cause of our tendency to feel depressed in our adult life.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and our own Changing Limiting Beliefs course allow you to find more effective ways of thinking and feeling to help you to cope much more effectively with the symptoms of Depression and Depressive tendencies.
Contact us to arrange a FREE initial consultation to discuss your Symptoms, worries or concerns, or fill out our Enquiry form and we’ll get back to you.
Depression - Symptoms of Depression - Overcoming Depression
“......I was so desperate I thought nothing could help me the antidepressants did not do much and the doctors just kept upping my dose to no avail. My family were so stressed being on suicide watch 24/7 just waiting for me to try to kill myself again!
Within two months I am happy, I love my life as well as myself. Anyone reading this in the depth of despair and pain caused by severe depression will think it cannot be possible but please believe me when I say you really can turn your life around with Paul’s help......” (Mrs K)
What our clients said....
What is Depression ?
We all go through spells of feeling down, but when you're depressed, you feel persistently sad for weeks or months rather than just a few days.
Some people still think that depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition. They're wrong. Depression is a real illness with real symptoms, and it's not a sign of weakness or something you can 'snap out of' by 'pulling yourself together'.
The good news is that with the right treatment and support, most people can make a full recovery from depression.
How to tell if you have depression
Depression affects people in many different ways and can cause a wide variety of symptoms.
They range from lasting feelings of sadness and hopelessness to losing interest in the things you used to enjoy and feeling very tearful or anxious.
There can be physical symptoms too such as feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite or sex drive and complaining of various aches and pains.
The severity of the symptoms can vary. At its mildest, you may simply feel persistently low in spirit, while at its most severe, depression can make you feel suicidal and that life is no longer worth living.
It's important to seek help from your GP if you think you may be depressed.
If you've been feeling low for more than a few days, take this short test to find out if you could be suffering from Depression
Many people wait a long time before seeking help for depression, but it's best not to delay. The sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you can be on the way to recovery.
Sometimes there is a trigger for depression. Life-changing events, such as bereavement, or losing your job or even having a baby, can bring it on.
People with a family history of depression are also more likely to experience depression themselves.
But you can also become depressed for no obvious reason.
The different Types of Depression
Major Depressive Disorder (also known as Major Depression, Clinical Depression) – A major depressive episode occurs with symptoms that last for most of the day, nearly every day for at least two weeks. A symptom must either be 1) depressed mood or 2) a noticeable decrease in interest or pleasure in all or most activities. At least four (or more) additional symptoms are present:
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significant weight loss / weight gain or decrease / increase in appetite
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difficulty sleeping or increase in sleeping
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excessive movement or slowing down associated with mental tension (observed by others)
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fatigue or loss of energy
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feeling worthless or excessive guilt
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difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
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repeatedly thinking about death or suicide, trying to attempt suicide or having a specific plan to commit suicide
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Dysthymic Disorder (or also referred to as Dysthymia) – Nearly constant depressed mood for at least 2 years accompanied by at least two (or more) of the following:
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decrease or increase in eating
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difficulty sleeping or increase in sleeping
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low energy or fatigue
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difficulty concentrating or making decisions
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feeling hopeless
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Symptoms do not occur for more than two months at a time. Generally, this type of depression is described as having persistent but less severe depressive symptoms than Major Depression.
Manic Depression (now known as Bipolar Disorder) – This kind of depression includes periods of mania and depression. Cycling between these two states can be rapid or only mania can be present without any depressive episodes. A manic episode consists of a persistent elevated or irritable mood that is extreme, which lasts for at least one week. At least three (four if only irritable mood) other features are also present:
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inflated self-
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decreased need for sleep
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more talkative than usual or compelled to keep talking
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experiencing racing thoughts or ideas
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easily distracted
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increase in goal-
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excessive involvement in potentially risky pleasurable behaviour (e.g. over spending, careless sexual activity, unwise business investments)
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Symptoms can be severe enough to warrant hospitalisation to prevent harm to self or others or include psychotic features (e.g. hallucinations, delusions).
Are you Depressed?
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