Depression is more than just feeling miserable.
We all experience being miserable from time to time. That’s natural. Depression is when the volumes turned up and we feel low for longer. Ordinary things become more tiring or boring. Some people lose weight; others put it on. Similarly, some have sleep problems, others find it hard to stay awake. It can affect all of us slightly differently.
Typically, when it becomes more intense, we might find the future really bleak. Some people think about escape or even suicide. Generally, our thoughts become more negative. We can be preoccupied by worries or feeling guilty about things that wouldn’t normally bother us. Concentrating enough to do routine things can be a real ordeal.
Depression is becoming more common amongst young people. At anyone time as many as one in seven people can be mildly affected and up to one in twenty can have severe symptoms. It is thought to be caused by a mixture of pressure from life’s hassles and changes in the chemicals in our brain. It’s much the same as many illnesses, if we get ’the chemicals’ put right then the symptoms reduce.
The outlook is very positive for people who seek help (although it doesn’t feel that way at the time!). Talking about how you feel is important. Ideally, finding a trusted friend is helpful. However, when people get depressed they often become more isolated. Then, ringing a Helpline could help. Speaking to your family doctor, a college or school counsellor or a youth worker is a good starting point to getting the best help.
If the feelings don’t pass after a couple of weeks, it’s a good idea to seek help. Sometimes your doctor may suggest a ’talking treatment’ and anti-depressant medication. Together, it generally works well. Although the tablets take a while to work. The unpleasant thing is that a few people complain of mild inconvenient side effects, before they get the benefit.
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