Depression 101

Understanding Depression: It’s more than just Feeling Down…

We can all feel sad and down at times. However, there’s no need to worry, as these feelings are completely normal. Whether you’ve just gone through something stressful, or not, like a break-up, an exam, or a major change in your life, it is completely normal to feel sad and down. This is simply just part of being a human with emotions and feelings. However, if you start to notice that you are experiencing sad feelings or low mood more and more often, or the sad feelings or low mood are getting stronger, you may be experiencing depression.

The word ‘depression’ has become very common and, it can sometimes be overused. It is often used to describe how a person is feeling at a certain point in time, as opposed to a diagnosable mental health issue. To give you an example, John is a happy man who is well liked, has a good job and has lots of friends. However, after watching his favourite sporting team lose the big game, John says “I feel depressed”. Now it’s most likely that John isn’t actually depressed, and that he’s just using the word ‘depressed’ to summarise his temporary feelings of sadness and disappointment after his sports team lost. Depression on the other hand, is where someone experiences persistent feelings of sadness and low mood most of the time. It can have a big impact on many different parts of our lives, as it influences how we think, feel and behave. Depression can affect people from all walks of life and is much more common than people think. It affects up to 1 in 7 Australians in their lifetime (Mental Health First Aid Australia, 2022), so there’s a good chance you know several people who will experience depression at some point. Depression can be caused by numerous factors such as life events, personality, relationships, physical health, medications or genetics, just to name a few. There are several signs and symptoms to look out for which can help you tell if someone you know may be experiencing depression.

Signs & Symptoms of Depression…

One of the earliest signs that a person may be experiencing depression is their thoughts start to change. They may start to think very negatively about themselves, their lives, and the world as a whole. They may also have difficulty concentrating, getting motivated, making decisions, or even think about harming themselves. These kinds of thoughts will eventually start to have an effect on our feelings and emotions. For example, if Sophia starts having negative thoughts about herself like “I am not good at anything” or “nobody likes me”, she may start feeling unhappy, numb, empty, worthless, guilty or irritable. Put simply, when we’re depressed our brains are not working correctly, and when our brains aren’t working right, it can also affect how our body works and functions.

People who are depressed often have trouble sleeping and can lose their appetite. This can cause them to feel very tired or feel like they have no energy, and say/think things like “I can’t be bothered” or “what’s the point?” This can result in a loss of motivation to do simple tasks, such as clean up around the house or cook dinner, or even tasks that a person used to find fun and pleasurable like playing sports or video games. Depression can also cause a person to spend less time with their friends and family, as well as withdraw from other areas of their life like school or work. Lastly, people who are experiencing depression may start using things like drugs and alcohol to try and cope with their negative thoughts and feelings, which often only makes things worse.

What can be done about Depression?

If left untreated, depression can have a negative impact on our thoughts, feelings, behaviours, as well as our lives and our happiness. This is why it is crucial to start treating depression as early as possible. There are many steps you can take to improve your mental health, including eating well, sleeping well, exercising regularly, and avoiding drugs and alcohol. It can also be helpful to talk about your thoughts and feelings with a friend or family member who can provide support. However, the best step you can take when dealing with depression is to seek the help of a mental health professional. At CQ Psych Services, we use a range of approaches to help clients with depression, including a Humanistic approach, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Psychodynamic Therapy & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The CBT therapy method helps people to understand how their thoughts can affect their emotions, feelings, and behaviours. In short, it can allow clients to identify unhelpful thought patterns, change unhelpful behaviours, and help reduce stress and feelings of low mood. We can also introduce you to some very helpful relaxation and mindfulness techniques and coping strategies that can help you when you’re feeling down. So, if you or someone you know is experiencing depression, it may be time to see a psychologist.

How to Access a Psychologist at CQ Psych Services:

• Contact us directly by calling 07 4972 6929 or email admin@cqpsychservices.com.au
• Ask your GP or health professional to refer you to our clinic.
• Come in and see our friendly staff at Shop 1 & 2, 13 Tank Street, Gladstone QLD 4680.
• Visit our website and complete a ‘Request an Appointment’ form and one of our friendly staff will reply to your enquiry. Website: https://cqpsychservices.com.au/

Author: Tom Grainger