Depression

Depression

Am I depressed - do I just have the blues?

We all have times when we feel down, especially if we are experiencing relationship difficulties, financial stress, unemployment, a good friend moves away, or someone we care about dies. However, the gloomy feelings usually pass and we still experience happy times with friends or family. Sometimes the sad feelings don't go away - we stop enjoying things that used to be fun. This could mean you have become depressed.

How will I know if I am depressed?

If you've been feeling miserable more often than not over the past two weeks or more, and you've stopped enjoying things that used to be fun, you might be depressed. Check the symptoms below - if you tick three or more it is likely you are experiencing a bout of depression.

	Finding it hard to feel interested in things
	Wanting to avoid friends and everyday activities
	Difficulty concentrating or decision-making
	Either losing interest in eating, or over-eating
	Losing weight when you are not dieting, or gaining weight
	Having disturbed sleep or, alternatively, wanting to sleep all the time
	Thinking about, or planning, suicide
	Having unpleasant negative thoughts, such as feeling guilty or that you are a bad or unworthy person
	Pain and/or headaches that don't seem to have a physical cause

Why do we get depressed?

Sometimes stress builds up in our lives and overwhelms our ability to cope. You may have lost someone you love, had a baby, or been stressed and too busy for too long. Ongoing stress like coping on a low income, facing rising debt, or feeling lonely and isolated can lead to depression.

Sometimes people get depressed for no obvious reason - the heavy feelings just seem to come out of the blue. This can happen when people come from families who seem more vulnerable to becoming depressed after relatively mild stress. No matter how you become depressed, the effects are debilitating and will affect all aspects of your life and relationships if left untreated.

What if it's just the blues?

Even so, it may still be useful for you to discuss your worries and low mood with a professional counsellor or psychologist. It is good to tackle the little problems before they become big ones.

How common is depression?

Depression is more common than most people think. In fact, it is about as common as asthma. One in seven people will experience a bout of depression at some stage in their lives.

How will my depression be treated?

Firstly, depression can be treated. It is important to treat it like any other illness and seek help. Depression involves changes in the brain chemistry and can influence the way we respond to our world. Options for treating depression include:

Working with a psychologist or counsellor who will:

	Help you learn skills for solving problems, planning ahead, and improving interactions with others.
	Help you see the positive side of yourself, others, and your circumstances.
	Assist your relationships with others.
	Help you avoid negative thinking patterns.
	Assist you with coping with everyday tasks.
	Help you with issues underpinning your depression.

Medical assistance:

See your doctor to discuss the possibility of using antidepressent medication to correct the imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain.

Often counselling, together with lifestyle changes (e.g. stress reduction, cutting down on alcohol ) is useful for helping depression. In some cases medication may be necessary to help resolve a severe or longstanding bout of depression.

If you, or anyone you know, shows symptoms of depression and you would like to make an appointment to discuss this with me, email a-lamont@xtra.co.nz, or telephone (03) 354-1969

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