Dealing With Depression
Feeling sad or low from time to time is a normal part of life. It is a natural response, typically triggered by some form of loss or disappointment and is our way of adjusting to what has happened. At the other end of the misery spectrum, depression becomes a chronic and debilitating condition that interferes with our ability to function properly. People suffering from depression in this way will regularly experience several of the following:
- depressed mood for much of the day;
- changes in appetite, weight and sleep patterns;
- lack of energy and loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities;
- feelings of guilt or worthlessness;
- difficulty in concentrating or make decisions;
- recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
The extent to which any of us will experience depression is influenced by our genetic makeup, type of personality, personal history, present circumstances and recent stressful events.
Depression can be the outcome of a biological cause such as diabetes, MS, thyroid problems, the after-effects of a viral infection, or the abuse of alcohol or drugs. There are many biologically based possibilities for depression and a good starting point might be to check out with a medical practitioner the possibility of such a cause.
Alternatively depression can be the natural emotional response to a significant loss, for example from the death of a loved one, the diagnosis of a major illness, the break-up of a relationship or the loss of a job. This may last a few days or weeks or when on the scale of a bereavement, months and even years.
However there can be underlying factors that prevent the natural process of healing from taking place. How we feel about ourselves is perhaps the most significant and low self-esteem, depression and anxiety often go hand in hand. Other factors include:
- relationship difficulties(see Relationship Issues);
- unrealistic or distorted beliefs about ourselves and the world around us;
- the way we typically think about things;
- how we deal (or don’t) with conflict.
These can all lead to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, which in turn can help feed destructive habits such as alcohol & drug abuse, comfort eating and other obsessive or destructive behavior.
Counselling can help depression by helping you to:
- understand its nature and source;
- identify unreasonable, outdated or inappropriate beliefs that contribute to it;
- learn more constructive ways of thinking;
- develop more effective strategies for managing and coping with the events in your life;
- develop more positive views about yourself and the world you live in;
- embark on a process of positive personal development in a safe and supportive environment.