Have you felt sad, empty and tearful for long periods of time?
Or inexplicably angry and irritable or frustrated over small things .....?
What about feeling like you've lost pleasure in most things and just want to be alone?
Most people have a rough idea of what depression is and have possibly even experienced it at some point in their lives. Feeling low, sad down in the dumps with no motivation. Sometimes it can leave little will to live. It is also known as The black dog - for the same reason that it's this dark constant companion that can be unpredictable, sinister, overwhelming and not always seen, perhaps even feared. If any of you reading this article have ever felt depressed or had depression, you may recognise how well the metaphor actually fits.
Luckily, these days we are much more aware of depression as an important mental health issue, that if not treated can result in the tragic loss of loved ones to suicide.
But what exactly is depression? It's a huge question to answer, with so many layers to it. I am going to propose a general mental health description which we can all understand. A definition of Depression that I personally like because I think it makes the most sense. " A mental health disorder characterised by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life" Mayo Clinic.
Although this is just a simple statement, it really does cover the basics for what we all can relate to and consider when it comes to understanding depression. The catch is that it lacks a tonne of information that defines more accurately all the "types" of depression we know today. There are too many, and to know which "one" you might have perhaps is best left to trained professionals such as Psychologists.
What we do know aside from this definition is that it truely is a dark place to be in mentally, emotionally, socially, and even physically. It's painful not just to the person suffering but to friends and family that don't know how to help and feel incapable of making you feel better. What causes it?
The good news is that there is help and treatment for depression no matter what 'type' you may have. Recognising symptoms is the first step, followed by reaching out to a qualified psychologist to start the process will bring some relief and hope which already is an improvement.
Some signs of depression are: low - flat - isolated - helplessness - hopelessness - amotivated - restless sleep -negative thoughts - appetite - crying a lot
Psychodynamic therapy treats depression by getting to the root cause. There are many reasons depression comes on board for an individual, perhaps it's time you speak to a psychologist about what you are feeling and discover ways that together you can overcome depression and move forward.
By Psychologist Magdalena Lopez
About Me: I'm a caring & compassionate Psychologist in Melbourne, helping adults, couples and families in counselling who have anxiety, depression or relationship concerns, live a happier, healthier life.