What really is depression?

There are so many levels of what might be termed depression.

Who hasn’t got up in the morning and looked out to a grey sky and rain, and felt a bit depressed? Sun and blue sky makes us feel better straight away. That’s just feeling a bit down in the dumps, but something happens and then we feel better.

The next level of depression could be when we are experiencing severe anxiety, and we have not found a solution to our problems. We might go on for some time feeling miserable. Nothing makes us feel better. We wake fed up and we go to bed fed up. Only when we decide to either have therapy or medication, or both, do we begin to recover.

Slowly day to day, week by week, our mood is lifting and we find ourselves wanting to smile more often, even laugh. Maybe the problems are still there but we are dealing with them in a different or better way.

It may take some weeks to feel right or motivated to want to do things other than what we do daily, but we know we are recovering and therapy, particularly the kind of therapy that gives us techniques to use yourself that empower you more.

What we may term clinical depression, is more serious. You don’t want to get up in the morning, or take care of your personal hygiene. You certainly don’t want to join in on any activities and you walk around as if you have the world on your shoulders.

It may be a chemical inbalance, but what came first? Traumatic events or experiences, then depression? It can be a matter of chicken and egg. Whatever it is, you may not have always been that way, unless as a baby you were depressed too. I often think it is more of a learned behaviour, but that is just an opinion.

Whatever the case, mild or serious depression, help is out there. No one has to go it alone, unless of course you choose to.

It’s hard to make an effort to get help, but it is there. Whether you call the Samaritans (amazingly helpful), speak to your doctor, have therapy, in which case speak to several, or start emailing them to see how they respond, to make sure you have the right person to help you the most, you are then on the first step to recovery.

Laughter always has and will be one of the best medicines. If you haven’t laughed for a while, find a film or comedy show that you know makes you laugh. Laughing until your stomach hurts is great medicine and heals.

Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 13 – 19 May but we are here to help at any time.

Please call me if you would like help to deal with any issues you may have. Either by phone 01493 604982 or email info@joygower.co.uk