| Select any section that interests you or
else read on through the page. |
| You may be uncertain whether or not you
are depressed. Everyone's experience of depression is
different, and there is a wide variety of symptoms which
are listed below. Many people feel down occasionally,
or go through bad patches, but have areas in their lives
that make them feel good, and like things about themselves.
For some people though, life is more of a struggle. They
feel bad about themselves and their lives in most ways.
At times they feel complete despair. If you feel like
this, then you are probably depressed. |
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Disliking or even hating yourself
or people in general. |
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Thinking negatively; always seeing the worst in
everything. |
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Finding everything a terrible effort. |
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Being very irritable. |
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Sleeping too little or too much. |
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Eating too little or too much. |
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Heavy dependency on alcohol or drugs. |
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Cutting yourself off from other people including
loss of interest in sex. |
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Unable to stop crying or unable to release tears.
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Depression spans a spectrum. At one end
you can struggle on leading a more or less normal life,
but feeling awful; at the other end the depression may
be life-threatening and you may feel suicidal. How can
you help yourself?
With moderate depression
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Keep as occupied as you can with things
that really interest you. |
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Get physical - play sport, jog, dance - do anything
that stops you brooding. |
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Do anything which makes you laugh. |
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Look after yourself physically. Eat healthily
and avoid drugs. |
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Pay attention to your appearance to make yourself
feel good. |
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Treat yourself from time to time. |
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Try to make your living environment as pleasant
and comfortable as possible. |
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Ask for help. Others are usually very willing
to listen. |
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Don't hold your feelings in. Cry and get angry
if you need to. |
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Practice challenging some of your negative ideas
- especially about yourself. Are you really a worse
person or are you just judging yourself too harshly?
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For severe depression you need to consider
getting help.
Severe depression is when: |
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you cannot function normally e.g.
you are not going to lectures/eating/getting out
of bed, |
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you are actively considering suicide. |
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| Finding
help and further information |
| It may be difficult to put any of the above
suggestions into action if you are very depressed. If
that is the case, then it is important that you seek help.
There are several sources of help - |
|
Contact the USCS who are very used
to dealing with depression. If they cannot help
you, they will be able to refer you to someone who
can. Otherwise you can contact the British
Association for Counselling. |
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Don't be afraid to see the LSMP or your GP if
you are depressed. Your GP may refer you to appropriate
help or may offer medication in the form of anti-depressants.
Medication does not necessarily take away the cause
of the depression, but may give you enough of a
lift to take action to deal with the depression
yourself as suggested above. |
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Self-Help Groups. These are organisations run
by people who are have been depressed. They offer
advice or information and put people in touch with
one another. It can be comforting to know that you
are not alone in feeling as you do, and helpful
to learn how others cope. Addresses from Student
Counselling Service. |
|
Around 75% of the population suffers from
depression at some time in their lives. If you learn to
recognise your own particular set of symptoms which tell
you you're depressed, and acquaint yourself with the coping
mechanisms for trying to deal with them, you can often
learn how to manage your depression. It is very important
not to think you are weak or inadequate because you are
depressed, but to marshall your resources for finding
a way out of your depression. Many people find it helpful
to read and learn more about the management of depression.
There is a wealth of literature on the subject available
from most large book stores. Below are a couple of the
titles you may find helpful.
Depression: The Way Out of Your Prison - Dorothy Rowe
- Routledge 1983
A very human and readable explanation of depression and
ways to deal with it.
Depression - Paul Hauck - Sheldon 1990
A very short and easily read book which helps challenge
depressive thinking.
Understanding Depression
(leaflet) - Mind Publications
1997
Briefly covers what depression is and how to get help.
Gives useful addresses and help lines. |
| Adapted from material produced
by Royal Holloway College, the University of London |
