Depression can envelop someone's life,
or can pass in and out of someone life. Nearly 8% of the UK
population suffer from depression (with almost twice as many
women as men). Depression is more likely in persons who are
divorced or separated, who are from Western countries, and who
were born after World War II.
Depression is an emotional state in which
the person suffers extreme feelings of sadness, dejection, lack
of worth, and emptiness. Many times it includes a feeling of
having no motivation or energy. Depression can regularly be
related to stress and anxiety. In many cases of depression,
stress and anxiety are grouped together.
After a break-up or the death of a loved
one, there is a normal grieving period that will accompany the
upset. Losing a job you liked or not getting a promotion you
wanted can leave anyone feeling down. The difference between
feeling sad and actual clinical depression is that those sad
feelings persist for an abnormally long period of time.
For
mild to moderate depression, psychotherapy (without medication)
is an effective treatment, and in many cases it can work quite
quickly. According to the American Psychological Association,
there is evidence that people who undergo psychotherapy are
far better off than untreated individuals. One major study showed
that 50% of people in treatment noticeably improved after eight
sessions, while 75% improved by the end of six months. In addition,
psychotherapy has been shown to improve social interaction and
relationship skills, both of which are known to help prevent
depression. Psychotherapy can also combat some of the other
problems, for example, negative thinking, pessimism and difficulty
with problem solving, which are all associated with depression.
For more severe or prolonged depression, or depression for which
psychotherapy alone has not provided relief, a combination of
medication and psychotherapy is thought to be the strongest
approach. In the past ten years, new medications have been introduced
that treat depression more effectively and have fewer side effects.
If a person has tried medication in the past without success,
often a different dosage, or a different type or combination
can provide relief.
It's estimated that only half those people with depression seek
professional help. This may largely be to do with the stigma
that continues to surround mental health disorders, however,
depression tends to get worse if it isn't treated, and it's
easier to treat before your symptoms get serious. It's important
to seek help when you first notice that your feelings are not
going away, or are starting to affect your quality of life.
Sometimes a friend or family member will notice the depression
before the depressed person does. In these cases, it's important
to tell the person what you are noticing and offer to assist
the person in getting help
While some therapists are doctors, I personally am not (most
are not) and therefore I cannot diagnose psychological disorders,
nor can I prescribe any kind of medication. What I can do is
give you some information about depression and allow you to
decide for yourself whether this is something that you should
seek further assistance with. I can also show you some natural
ways to treat depression, the results of which can be enormous.
With some good, applied advice, we can move you on to a happier
and healthy existence and a new lease of life.
