According to the NHS, depression is a low mood that lasts for weeks or months and affects one’s daily life. It is more than a bad mood and affects one’s feelings and behaviour. This means it affects one’s work and productivity. It also affects one’s social abilities and therefore relations can be negatively impacted.

The symptoms of depression

• Feeling low and sad for extended periods of time
• Fatigue and lack of interest in doing things you once loved to do
• Change in eating habits
• Having challenges to sleep
• Inability to concentrate 
• Overwhelming feelings of frustration, unworthiness, emptiness, guilt and failure
• Thoughts of suicide and death

Depression can be caused by biological, psychological and environmental factors. Biological factors can be a range of hormone and chemical imbalances. They can also be hereditary emanating from parents or grandparents. Psychological factors can be influenced by traumas, esteem and stress. Environmental factors include life events, isolation and substance abuse.

How to get help

It is important to seek help early to get a diagnosis and to start your healing process. You can get help from your local GP who can give you direction and refer you to mental services. This is a big step into getting professional help. You can also refer yourself to mental health services and get assistance. 

Getting help privately

Some people look for help in the private sector for different reasons. One of the main reasons is that they can get support more quickly in the private sector. Sometimes people want a second opinion and sometimes they just want more support than what they are getting. Platforms like Welinq and  Online-Therapy.com offer online therapy and one can get a talking session quickly with their accredited therapists.

Treatment

Depression is treatable through lifestyle changes, medication and therapy. Talking to your gp as early as you can is important for diagnosis and recovery. Your therapist will recommend one treatment or a combination of the above depending on the severity of the depression. When depression is mild a therapist may encourage lifestyle changes like getting enough rest, eating well, exercising and establishing routines. Sometime your therapist may recommend cognitive behavioural therapy or interpersonal therapy. When depression is severe you can get prescribed medication like antidepressants. There is a lot of support out there and all you need to do is to reach out. 

Have you been diagnosed with a mental disorder and you want to share your story? We would love to hear your story and to share it. We hope to inspire the next person to get help. Check our submission page on how to share.