Accessing Professional Support For Loneliness And Depression
If you have found that you continue to feel lonely and depressed regardless of any changes that you make to your lifestyle, you may need a helping hand in order to start feeling better.
You may want to start out by visiting your GP and explaining the thoughts and feelings that you have been experiencing. They can provide you with advice, support and if necessary, access to a service such as Priory Group where you can receive specialist support and treatment.
You can also come directly to Priory Group, where you will be able to sit down with one of our consultant psychiatrists to determine the best form of treatment or therapy for you to undergo at one of our hospitals or wellbeing centres. The mental health support and treatment that we are able to provide includes weekly therapy sessions, day or half-day sessions at one of our day facilities or residential stays, if deemed necessary.
Why Am I Feeling Lonely And Depressed
People experience loneliness, leading to depression, for a number of different reasons.
When it comes to loneliness, a person will typically feel alone when the relationships in their life lack the intensity, intimacy and authenticity that they need to feel content. This can happen for a number of reasons, including:
- Losing someone close to you
- Getting a divorce or ending a relationship
- Retiring, becoming unemployed or changing jobs
- Entering higher education or changing your school, college or university
- Relocating to an area away from family, friends and colleagues
- Going through seasonal events such as Christmas, birthdays or anniversaries
- Experiencing a traumatic life event, particularly if it remains unaddressed
- Experiencing a mental health condition or addiction, particularly if it remains unaddressed
There are also many reasons as to why people experience depression, many of which overlap with what can cause loneliness. These can include the following:
- Experiencing trauma, especially during childhood
- Going through a distressing life event such as losing your job, getting a divorce or losing someone you love
- Struggling with serious and/or chronic physical health problems
- Having a family history of depression or other mental health problems
- Having previous experiences with mental health problems
- Having certain personality traits such as being very self-critical or having low self-esteem
The Ultimate Approach To Stopping Morning Depression
All of the above are wonderful ways to stop morning depression. But there is another method, both super-efficient and easy, that has proven itself scientifically time after time. This method is called subliminal messages.
They contain positive affirmations and suggestions that you cannot fully hear and understand by that, they effortlessly bypass your consciousness and natural resistance.
If, for example, you hear clear-spoken affirmations such as, I feel wonderful to get up in the morning, you will reject it right away because this kind of statement is the complete opposite of your built-in depression-based thought patterns.
However, when you dont hear this suggestion, you will not have the option to resist it in other words, the suggestion has the ability to leave behind your depressive mornings.
Once you have no resistance, there is nothing that will stop these powerful affirmations from syncing in and reaching deep inside your subconscious mind.
They are recorded in a way that bypasses conscious processing. Allowing them to take root deeply and permanently rewire your mind to feel happier in the mornings.
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How To Use This Tool To Stop Morning Depression
1. Listen day and night.2. Allow the recording to play in the background at a comfortable volume.3. Headphones are not a must.4. Never listen in a moving vehicle and/or when doing activities that might put you or others at risk.
The affirmations of this session are:
I love waking up in the mornings.I feel vibrant, vital and happy to wake up in the mornings.Life is wonderful I enjoy my life.I feel complete Im a whole.It feels great to wake up in the morning and start my day.My life is great, I appreciate every bit in it.I am grateful for my life and for who I am.My subconscious mind is wired to feel good.Thinking positive is a natural part of who I am.I look at the positive side of everything in this world.My frequency level is high because I feel great during day and night.Everything always works out for me.Senses of joy and happiness wrap my heart, mind, and soul.I attract amazing opportunities, people, and circumstances on a regular basis.Every day, in every way, I feel more and more happy.When I wake up in the morning, I feel highly motivated to start my day.
Is Anger A Frequent Occurrence
All too often, angry reactions which may seem to be excessive are a sign that there are underlying issues. Do not think that every person who just snaps and throws his/her weight around mentally and physically is just reacting normally. Everyone has an occasional angry outburst when driving or when things go pear-shaped.
But if this is almost a daily occurrence, then you need to discover why and maybe avoid that person. Too often, anger will escalate to violent and aggressive behavior. You do not want to be near someone who thinks violence can solve personal or global problems.
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Add Mindfulness To Your Day
Mindfulness is the practice of focusing your attention on the present moment and accepting it without judgment. It can prevent you from getting caught up in worries about the future or regrets about the past.
Listen to a favorite song. Sit somewhere comfortable and give your attention fully to the music, even if its a song youve heard a thousand times before.
Try a mindful chore. Complete a household chore such as washing dishes while giving your attention fully to the task. Notice how things feel, smell, or sound and whenever your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the task.
Meditate. HelpGuides Mindful Breathing Meditation can help you harness the power of your breath to ground yourself in the present moment and find inner calm.
You Lose Interest In The Things You Used To Love
Losing interest in activities is a classic symptom of depression. Many of us change our interests with time. What you were interested in 10 years ago may not be what you’re interested in today. However, if you suddenly lost interest in the things you loved and you aren’t replacing them with activities that mentally stimulate you and give you joy, then this may be a sign of depression.
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Strengthen Your Support Network
If you feel that you arent satisfied with the social interactions in your life, think about what you can do to build more meaningful connections. What activities do you enjoy or is there something new you want to try? Look into joining local groups or clubs to meet like-minded people who you can spend time with.
You may also want to look into getting professional therapeutic support. Many people who feel lonely and depressed find it useful to talk through what theyre experiencing with a therapist or counsellor, who they can then work with to find solutions for a better quality of life going forward.
What Is Focused Meditation
Meditation is the practice of becoming self-aware through breath and attention to connect the mind, body, and spirit.Meditation as a whole can change the structure and function of our brain. That being said, focused meditation or a guided meditation for focus is by far the best one. Meditation for focus and concentration can come in different forms. Experienced meditators use the following:
- Mindfulness this meditation involves us to be focusing on your breath and observing thoughts. This allows us to focus on our feelings without becoming too absorbed in them.
- Concentrative a meditation that gets us to focus on a particular point be it a word, breath, object, or a point in the space youre meditating. This is meant for us to pay attention to that point and prevent our minds from getting distracted.
- Moving this meditation involves gets us to focus on slow and repetitive movements similar to yoga or tai chi. The goal is again to be focusing on your breath while relaxing your body and mind with the movements.
Focused meditation, also known as concentrative meditation, is the practice of meditating and bringing your attention to one single object. This object can be something practical and tangible, such as a mandala painting or a candle flame. It can also be something abstract, such as a phrase or a sound .
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When Should I Get Support For Loneliness
If your feelings of loneliness and isolation are leading to severe symptoms of depression, the extent that it is inhibiting your ability to live your life normally, then it might be time to consider reaching out for professional help.
Seeking specialist support for the difficulties you’re having is not a sign of weakness. There are plenty of options out there for you. Your first port of call might be to speak to your local GP, you can recommend treatments or next steps.
As an alternative, Priory offers outpatient, inpatient and day care treatment for depression, as well as online therapy via Priory Connect. We will work closely with you to decide on the right direction for your recovery. Use the details below to get in touch with a mental health professional today and being your journey to overcoming loneliness.
Blog reviewed by Alison Hardy , Senior Lead Cognitive Behavioural Therapistat Priory Hospital Chelmsford
For details of how Priory can provide you with assistance regarding mental health and wellbeing, please call 0800 840 3219 or . For professionals looking to make a referral, please click here
Dont Use Facebook As An Indicator
You will be relieved to know that graphology is no longer considered a reliable test of a persons character. Neither is Facebook stalking, fortunately. A study showed that Facebook use of foul language, sexual innuendo and gossip were not reliable indicators of a candidates character or future performance in the workplace.
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Why Am I Getting Sad For No Reason Do I Have Depression
Are you feeling sad for no apparent reason? Having heightened emotions can come down to environmental factors, lifestyle choices, hormones, or underlying mental health conditions like depression or adjustment disorders. Is it normal to be depressed without even knowing it? You may be unaware that youre feeling sad or not your usual self, but it may already be depression.
The truth is, it is difficult to recognize the presence of depression, as for some, it may simply appear as sadness or common grief. After all, depression is not just a feeling that passes it is a serious clinical diagnosis that needs to be addressed. Sadness is a symptom of depression and maybe a gradual occurrence.
I Was One Of The Walking Depressed Some Of My Clients Are Too
We have many of the symptoms of clinical depression, but we are still functioning.
On the surface, people might not know anything is wrong. We keep working, keep going to school, keep looking after our families.
But were doing it all while profoundly unhappy. Depression is negatively impacting our lives and relationships and impairing our abilities.
Our depression may not be completely disabling, but its real.
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Why You May Not Know You’re Depressed
There are several possible explanations for being depressed and not knowing it. Depression might not be on your radar, either due to denial or stigma, or you may dismiss your symptoms because you’ve been experiencing them for so long. You may even be mistaking the symptoms of depression for something else.
The following are some reasons why you may not realize that you are depressed:
How To Beat The Blues
Now that you have a better idea of why you feel depressed sometimes for no apparent reason, here are some measures you can take to lift your mood.
The first part is a list of quick tips to get you out of your funk. The second part is a list of preventive measures to help build your inner strength, and keep you from getting depressed in the first place.
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Lack Of Focus Direction Or Drive
It may be a simple thing of a lack of focus, direction or drive for your reason for sadness. You may have a great life, but you dont know which way to go next. You arent taking what you do have seriously. In fact, you may be taking what you have for granted.
The lack of gratitude may be the reason why you cant see the good even though its there. Youre forgetting why you started. You dont recognize yourself in the mirror because youve let yourself wander so far. But now, its time to get it all back.
Choose. Make choices. Act. It sounds simple, but it is not easy to get your drive back. You have to really want it. And that changes everything.
Your mindset is everything. If you cant view things with a positive spin, you will have nothing to do that is meaningful or productive. If your mindset is causing you to overlook what you do have and what you can have, its time to change it. Just with positive self talk, getting focused is about realizing what you deserve.
Its during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. Aristotle
If you want to find your drive, this article can help you: How to Get Motivated Every Day When You Wake Up
Differences Between Sadness And Depression
Another important twist is that people can feel sad, even intensely sad, without depression being involved. When people experience a loss, they usually feel sad, but dont necessarily feel depressed. Sadness and depression have similarities, but they have some important differences.
When people are sad and express their sadness, they feel better, whereas when people are depressed, crying and expressing their pain may not give them relief. Sadness doesnt involve mean thoughts about oneself, or hopeless or suicidal thoughts, but depression often does. Sadness doesnt involve distortion in perception, or loss of perspective, whereas depression usually does. Finally, sadness doesnt interfere with feeling other emotions, while depression often prevents a range of specific emotions.
In my experience, most people who are depressed have some sense that something is wrong, and if they dont, people around them usually do. It really doesnt matter whether suffering fits neatly into the DSM diagnosis for depression or not.
Its not necessary to diagnose yourself or your loved ones. If you or someone you love is suffering, get professional help to assess what is causing the suffering and what would help relieve it.
The preceding article was solely written by the author named above. Any views and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. Questions or concerns about the preceding article can be directed to the author or posted as a comment below.
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Some Common Causes Of Depression
Some factors that contribute to depression include:
- Brain chemistry: The “chemistry” of depression is not well understood, but researchers do know that an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters can happen in anyone, even in the absence of an obvious “trigger.
- Non-modifiable risk factors: Some influences, such as brain structure, genetic predisposition, and environmental exposures, are not something a person can control.
- Modifiable risk factors: Risk factors that fall under the category of lifestyle choices are considered modifiable, but the extent to which an individual can do so will depend on their own ability and how much support they have.
Depression can make it much more challenging to address factors that might be contributing to depression, such as substance use or diet. As much as it is a mental illness, depression can also be physical. Symptoms like chronic pain and fatigue can make it difficult for people to take on lifestyle modifications, such as exercise, even if they want to and believe they could help.
To make these changes people need to have the right tools and a good deal of support. To get treatment, a person with depression needs to feel safe talking about how they are feeling.
A person who believes they are depressed for no reason may not feel they deserve to ask for or get help. Thats why its important to focus less on the reason for depression and instead think about the causes.
Helping Someone Who Is Depressed
If your loved one or friend is depressed, here are some things you can do:
- Help him find a GP or a mental health professional such as MensLine Australia counsellor so he can get support.
- Offer your support and understanding.
- Talk to him and listen to what he has to say.
- Invite him out. He may say no at first, and you dont want to push him, but let him know that you are there.
- Men with depression may be at risk for suicide. If he is in a crisis, get help quickly. Call Suicide Call Back Service on or call 000.
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You May Feel Sad For Many Reasons
Life is full of situations that may make people feel sad:
- having trouble at home
- having trouble at school or work, or feeling pressure there
- moving home
- losing a loved one or a friend
- being ill, or caring for someone who is ill
- experiencing chemical changes in your body
- experiencing changes in your thoughts .
When you face these situations, you may have unhelpful or negative thoughts about your sadness. And those thoughts can make you feel worse.
So, try a different approach: try to acknowledge your sadness and the situation that prompted it. And give yourself time to deal with any problems and feel better. You also may want to call on resources that could help you .