Seeking Help For Depression
Get help if you’re still feeling down or depressed after a couple of weeks.
Treatments for depression include psychological therapies and antidepressants.
You can refer yourself for psychological therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy or counselling on the NHS. You don’t need a referral from your GP.
You can talk it through with your GP first if you prefer. Your GP can also tell you about antidepressants.
If you start to feel that your life isn’t worth living or about harming yourself, get help straight away.
You can:
- contact Samaritans on 116 123 for 24-hour confidential, non-judgemental emotional support
What Treatment Should I Be Offered
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence writes guidance on what treatment doctors should offer you. But your doctor does not have to give you these treatments. And the treatments may not be available in your area.
Different treatments may be available in your area. Your doctor might think these suit your symptoms more than the recommended treatments.
NICE recommend that depression is treated in different steps depending on how severe the condition is for you. The steps are as follows.
Step 1: Everyone who may have depression
Your doctor should offer you:
- an assessment of your symptoms,
- support, such as regular appointments in person or by telephone,
- information on how to deal with your symptoms,
- monitoring of your symptoms and follow-up, and
- referral for further assessment and treatment if needed.
Step 2: Mild to moderate depression
Your doctor may offer you:
- low-intensity interventions, such as self-help guided by the doctor or computerised cognitive behavioural therapy ,
- physical activity programmes,
- group cognitive behavioural therapy ,
- medication if you have a history of moderate or severe depression, or you have had symptoms for a long time, and
- referral for further assessment and treatment if needed.
Step 3: Moderate to severe depression, or mild to moderate depression when other treatments havent worked
Your doctor may suggest:
Step 4: Severe and complex depression or if your life is at risk Your doctor may suggest:
- medication,
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This allows our experts to help with general topics and concerns or more specific concerns like cognitive behavioral therapy , couples therapy, anxiety, stress, grief, covid anxiety, depression, divorce, communication skills, phobias, emotion regulation, motivation, race relations, goal setting, substance misuse, and many others. Through therapy, you can receive techniques and solutions to live a happier life, and sometimes even a diagnosis for what it is you are experiencing. BetterHelp therapists can assist various people with different parts of their lived experiences to shift their behaviors and thinking for the better.
Why BetterHelp Is The Better Online Therapy Option
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It Started With A Story
Our founder, Jamie Tworkowski, didnt set out to start a nonprofit organization. All he wanted to do was help a friend and tell her story. When Jamie met Renee Yohe, she was struggling with addiction, depression, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts. He wrote about the five days he spent with her before she entered a treatment center, and he sold T-shirts to help cover the cost. When she entered treatment, he posted the story on MySpace to give it a home. The name of the story was To Write Love on Her Arms. Read the original story
What Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
If you have SAD, ask your provider:
- What treatment is best for me?
- How can I prevent depressive episodes?
- Will light therapy work?
- Should I take an antidepressant?
- When should I start treatment?
- How long should my treatment continue?
- What can I eat to improve my symptoms?
- What else can I do to feel better?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that happens every year during a specific season, usually winter. Symptoms can include a lack of energy and feelings of hopelessness. Fortunately, theres treatment for seasonal depression. Talk to your healthcare provider. Theyre there to help.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/10/2022.
References
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Different Types Of Depression
Your doctor may diagnose you with depression and say that its mild, moderate or severe depending on your symptoms and how severe they are. Or you may be diagnosed with a specific type of depression, such as:
- dysthymia mild depression that lasts for several years
- seasonal affective disorder depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern
- postnatal depression depression that many parents experience after having a baby. Some people experience antenatal depression during pregnancy
S To Help Yourself If You Feel Depressed
10 September, 2016
Feeling depressed is very unpleasant and painful. You feel unmotivated with no energy and no desire to be with other people. This is combined with despair, a sense of guilt, mistrust, lack of hope, and physical and mental exhaustion.
In these circumstances, your way of thinking and seeing the world also changes, and it now seems like an inhospitable and hostile place. Fear doesnt allow you to think clearly.
Whoever has seen everything emptied, knows what almost everything is filled with.
-Antonio Porchia-
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Depression Statistics: Disturbing Trends Helpful Treatment
Unfortunately, there are plenty of people who, like Kashuk, know exactly what it means to be depressed. An estimated 17.3 million, or 7 percent, of adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in the past year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, making it one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States.
Whats more, a recent report from Mental Health America, a nonprofit founded in 1909, offers startling statistics pertaining to one of depression’s most disturbing symptoms: thoughts of suicide.
According to its 2021 State of Mental Health in America report, suicidal ideation among adults increased by 0.15 percent between the 2016-2017 calendar year and the 2017-2018 calendar year, the most recent years for which statistics are available.
There is a bright side. Although there is no one-size-fits-all cure for depression, there are many effective treatment options, one of which is bound to help you heal if youre struggling with the illness. This cannot be emphasized enough, given that roughly two-thirds of people living with depression do not receive the care they need, according to a report in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, published online February 22, 2019.
This Quiz Will Help You Figure Out What Is Going On
- Do you find it difficult to pinpoint the source of anxious thoughts?
- Yes
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Know That Today Isnt Indicative Of Tomorrow
Internal emotions and thoughts can change from day to day. Tracking experiences through journaling or keeping a mood diary can help to remember this.
If you were unsuccessful at getting out of bed or accomplishing your goals today, remember that you havent lost tomorrows opportunity to try again.
Give yourself the grace to accept that while some days will be difficult, some days will also be less difficult. Try to look forward to tomorrows fresh start.
Common Emotions Experienced During Depression
While everyones experience with depression is a little different, some emotions during depression are fairly common symptoms:
- Sadness: Depression can cause deep feelings of sadness. Feelings of sadness might involve a particular event, like the loss of a loved one or they may just be general feelings of sadness.
- Guilt: Depression may make you feel guilty about almost everything. You might feel guilty youredepressed or you may feel bad about mistakes youve made.
- Irritability: You may feel irritable much of the time. You may have a lower frustration tolerance or you may just feel annoyed by almost everything going on around you.
- Anxiety: You might worry about something specific or you might just feel anxious for no particular reason.
- Loneliness: You might not feel like socializing when youre depressed but at the same time, you might feel really lonely. Loneliness can be common, even when youre surrounded by people.
- Worthlessness: You may believe that you dont have anything to contribute to the world and you might feel as though youre worthless to your friends and family.
- Hopelessness: Depression can cause you to think that nothing will ever work or that things will never get better.
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But It Was More Than Just A Story
The words and the life it represented shed light on the reality of contrastpain and peace, addiction and sobriety, regret and freedom.
Soon Jamie and his friends were answering messages from people around the world. They longed to lift the heavy weight of depression. They wanted to be free from addiction or self-injury, to stay alive and live fully. They were mourning those theyd lost to such struggles, and they reached out to ask what they could do to bring hope to their communities.
They sold T-shirts to help pay for Renees treatment, but what could they offer those people who were hurting?
Jamie knew he had stumbled onto a conversation that couldnt be ignored. In 2007, TWLOHA became an official nonprofit organization.
To Write Love on Her Arms is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery.
Adjusting Your Life For Recovery From Depression
There’s a lot that you can do on your own to ease the symptoms of depression. Changing your lifestyle can have a big effect on your mood. However, it’s not always easy to change our ways. It’s one thing to say that you’ll exercise five days a week, sleep at least eight hours a night, and eat three healthy meals and two snacks a day. But it’s not that easy to actually do. It’s especially difficult when you’re depressed. The key is to try not to get overwhelmed at the idea of changing your behavior. You also shouldn’t try to kick all your bad habits and reform totally overnight. That won’t work. Instead, start by making a few small changes to your life. As you start feeling better, make some more changes. Gradually ease yourself into a healthy lifestyle.
Lifestyle Tips That Aid in Depression Treatment
If you have treatment-resistant depression, you may have already tried one or more of these options. Don’t give up on them. Lifestyle changes continue to be important as you and your doctor determine the appropriate treatment options for you.
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Depression Tip : Do More Things That Are Good For You
This tip is two-fold: not only should you engage in activities that relax you or bring you satisfaction, but you should also try to live a healthy lifestyle. After all, physical health is very important to overall mental health. and mood.
Things You Enjoy
Even if the thought of being socially active or making plans is no longer exciting for you, you should push yourself to engage in the things you used to enjoy on days you feel up for it. It is true that you can not force yourself to have fun or be joyful, but just getting out and trying to live your life will help you start to feel better, even if it is very difficult during times of depression.
You may consider revisiting old hobbies or sports or finding a new creative outlet like music or art. Maybe consider taking a day trip to a museum or exhibit near you, or spend a day outside in the mountains or wilderness.
- Some examples of things you can do may include:
- Spend time outside for your morning coffee
- Make a list of things you like about yourself Read a book you love to
- Watch a funny TV show you enjoy or a funny movie
- Take a nice, long bath
- Focus on a few small tasks
- Play with your pet
- Spend time with family or a friend Listen to your favorite music
- Do something spur-of-the-moment
Can I Prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder
You may not be able to prevent the first episode of SAD. But once your provider has diagnosed you with seasonal depression, you can take steps to better manage it or even prevent it from coming back.
- Use your lightbox: Start using light therapy at the beginning of fall, before you feel SAD symptoms.
- Get out: Spend time outside every day, even if its cloudy. Daylight can help you feel better.
- Eat a well-balanced diet: Even though your body may crave starchy and sweet foods, stick to nutritious choices. A healthy diet with enough vitamins and minerals can give you the proper nutrition and energy you need.
- Exercise: Try to get 30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week. Exercise relieves stress and anxiety, which can play a role in your SAD symptoms.
- See friends: Stay involved with your social circle and regular activities. They can provide support during the winter months.
- Find help: Consider seeing a mental health professional whos trained in CBT. This treatment can be very effective for seasonal affective disorder.
- Consider medications: Talk to your healthcare provider about taking an antidepressant. Medications can help if your symptoms are severe or if they continue after other treatments. In some cases, taking the medication before SAD begins can prevent episodes.
Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if starting treatment early, as a preventive measure, is right for you.
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Depression As Something Learned
Our attitude towards life is something we learn something culturally or socially learned. Stereotypes, the upbringing received from our parents, observing our environment or assimilating our beliefs all play a fundamental role in our attitude.
If we add to this stigma, which for many means depression, we find ourselves with a bomb that is difficult to manipulate and deactivate. To regain control we have to re-learn and be critical by learning ways of behaving and reacting to circumstances, and learning to love ourselves more.
Encourage Them To Think About What They Enjoy Doing
Take a step-by-step approach towards helping them do these activities when they feel able to. This could be things like exercising or playing sport, listening to music, doing something creative like colouring or drawing, watching a favourite film, reading a favourite book or going for a walk with you.
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How Is Seasonal Affective Disorder Treated
Your provider will talk to you about treatment options. You may need a combination of treatments, including:
- Light therapy: Bright light therapy, using a special lamp, can help treat SAD.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy :CBT is a type of talk therapy. Research has shown it effectively treats SAD, producing the longest-lasting effects of any treatment approach.
- Antidepressant medication: Sometimes, providers recommend medication for depression, either alone or with light therapy.
- Spending time outdoors: Getting more sunlight can help improve your symptoms. Try to get out during the day. Also, increase the amount of sunlight that enters your home or office.
- Vitamin D: A vitamin D supplement may help improve your symptoms.
Mental Health Conditions: Depression And Anxiety
Depression is more than just feeling down or having a bad day. When a sad mood lasts for a long time and interferes with normal, everyday functioning, you may be depressed. Symptoms of depression include:1
- Feeling sad or anxious often or all the time
- Not wanting to do activities that used to be fun
- Feeling irritable easily frustrated or restless
- Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- Waking up too early or sleeping too much
- Eating more or less than usual or having no appetite
- Experiencing aches, pains, headaches, or stomach problems that do not improve with treatment
- Having trouble concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions
- Feeling tired even after sleeping well
- Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless
- Thinking about suicide or hurting yourself
The following information is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis of major depression and cannot take the place of seeing a mental health professional. If you think you are depressed talk with your doctor or a mental health professional immediately. This is especially important if your symptoms are getting worse or affecting your daily activities.
The exact cause of depression is unknown. It may be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.2 Everyone is different but the following factors may increase a persons chances of becoming depressed:1
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