Depression
There is no single cause of depression and psychiatrists believe it is more likely to be a combination of different influences such as biological factors (genetics, hormones or a chemical imbalance) and environmental factors (traumatic life events or situations).
Ongoing depression can result in an inability to maintain relationships, social withdrawal or an increase in addictive behaviours or unhealthy coping mechanisms.
When the repercussions of depression begin to escalate, sufferers can become even more helpless and unable to see a way out of their situation.
- Childhood depression – can be a result of factors such as neglect or abuse, poor parenting, changes to family life such as the birth of a sibling, bullying or moving to a new school.
- Teenage depression – can be caused by going through puberty, stresses of study, introduction to harmful substances, bullying, dating or new social situations.
- Antenatal and postpartum depression – can be caused by rapid hormonal changes and the stresses associated with pregnancy, labour and birth.
- Depression in the elderly – can be caused by genetics, past life experiences, poor health or social isolation, and loneliness.
- Depression in the physically ill – can be caused by prescription medications or experiencing traumatic life changing events such as cancer, heart attack etc.
If you or someone you know thinks they might be suffering from depression, common symptoms to look out for include:
- Low self-esteem
- Isolating behaviour
- Social anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts
- Lost pride in appearance
- Angry outbursts
- Emotional outbursts
- Self-harm
- Losing motivation
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Having difficulty concentrating or remembering things
- Having feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Talking negatively about yourself
- Lacking energy and feeling constantly fatigued
- Having difficulty sleeping
- Feeling helpless and overwhelmed
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Eating more than usual or having no appetite
- Losing or gaining weight
- Having headaches or joint pains
- Losing interest in sex
- Relying on substances or sedatives as a coping tool
The good news is there are treatments and recovery support available. There are a range of therapies and lifestyle improvements which, alone or in combination, can help to alleviate the symptoms of depression and help sufferers to come out of themselves and reconnect with the world.
Psychological treatments are about helping clients identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviours and change their thinking patterns so they are better able to cope with the stresses of life.
- Positive Psychology
- Schema Therapy
- Mindfulness and Mindfulness based therapies such as ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
- Gestalt Therapy
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Nueropsychotherapy
- Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP)
- Sensory Motor Psychotherapy
A treatment based on helping clients recognise that the way they think and act affects how they feel. It involves identifying those negative thought and behaviour patterns that make them more likely to be depressed and teaching them to change them to positive and realistic ones.
Like CBT, it helps clients to identify the negative thoughts and attitudes that lead to depression, but unlike CBT, it doesn’t teach them to change those thoughts, but rather teaches them to focus on other thoughts that are more pleasant and rewarding.
This treatment is normally given in groups and involves mindfulness meditation, which teaches clients to focus on the present moment. This can teach them to recognise the warning signs early and to prevent their minds from returning to unpleasant thoughts and feelings.
Treatments other than psychological therapies can sometimes be beneficial for sufferers of depression. These can be used alone or in conjunction with therapy and they include exercise and massage therapy.
Regular exercise can increase the brain’s serotonin levels, which regulate mood, sleep, libido and appetite, and increase the level of endorphins, which are known to have mood-elevating properties. Exercise can also increase energy, improve sleep, provide a social outlet, and increase a client’s sense of control and self-esteem.
Massage therapy is also thought to be beneficial for people suffering from depression because it reduces the levels of stress hormones in the brain such as adrenaline and cortisol which can trigger depression. It also produces chemical changes in the brain that result in a feeling of relaxation and wellbeing, which provides a distraction from negative thoughts and helps the client to focus on pleasant and positive emotions.
We can help you overcome a variety of challenges
Our personal, tailored BioPsychoSocial programs are designed to empower you to deal with
issues in your life including:
General Depression
Antenatal and Postpartum Depression
Depression in the Elderly
Depression in the Physically Ill/Injured
