Depression

Depression is very common and everyone feels fed up, sad, unhappy, miserable at times. Sometimes we know that there is a cause for our depression - maybe we have just broken up from a relationship, maybe someone we were close to has died, we may have failed exams, we may be ill - but other times there doesn't seem to be one cause - it may be a build up of problems, feeling unable to cope with life and we are not really sure why.

When depression is very severe some people can feel that life isn't worth living, they want to die. When depression doesn't go away it is important to ask for help. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help but a sign of strength to recognise that you have these feelings and are unable to cope. Many people find at some stage in their life that it is hard to cope as well as they used to. You don't have to be strong all the time - recognise when you are finding it difficult to cope and need support.

Symptoms

People can get a variety of symptoms when they feel very depressed.

General feelings of unhappiness which don't go away.

• Having no interest in life. 
• Finding it difficult to concentrate and make even easy decisions.
• Having no feeling of enjoyment in life.
• Not wanting to go out or mix with people but spending a lot of time on your own. 
•  Feeling very tired and having no energy.
• Finding it difficult to sleep and waking up frequently during the night. 
• Having no appetite and eating very little
• Losing self confidence and feeling worthless.
• Being very irritable, anxious, impatient. 
• Feeling very negative about life. 
• Having suicidal thoughts.

If you are depressed don't bottle it up - it is important you talk to someone - family, friend, teacher, youth leader, GP, organisation, helpline etc. - anyone you feel you can trust If you don't share how you are feeling you may find yourself using unhealthy coping strategies which will in the long run only add to your problems and make you feel worse - some people may start drinking alcohol more, may take drugs, may start self harming and cutting themselves, may stop eating or binge eating and making themselves sick.

What Can I do To Help Myself

• Don't bottle things up - find someone to talk to about how you are feeling.
• Make sure you get plenty of exercise and plenty of fresh air. You will find that even if you do a quick walk every day and a short period of other exercise each day you will start to feel physically and emotionally stronger and more able to cope. 
• Make sure you eat a healthy balanced diet - eat little and often and don't skip meals. If you are not eating properly you will feel more depressed and listless.
• Try and keep busy - to keep your mind occupied.
• Do things you enjoy to relax, treat yourself and take care of yourself.
• Try and get to bed at a regular time. If you find it difficult to sleep listen to the radio/TV/read and you may find you drop off to sleep more easily
• Don't resort to unhealthy ways of dealing with your problems like drinking, taking drugs, cutting, eating disorders.
• Ask for help when you need it. 
• Try to stop thinking in a negative way - when you think a negative thought try and replace it with a positive one. 
• If you need a hug ask someone you trust - this can make you that someone really does care how you are feeling.

Remember depression is very common - you will not always feel like this - you will come out of it and be able to enjoy life.

If your depression is severe and you are having thoughts about harming yourself or ending your life it is important you talk to someone immediately about how you are feeling.

ENDING YOUR LIFE AND HARMING YOURSELF IS NEVER THE ANSWER. YOU HAVE YOUR WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF YOU AND YOU WILL NOT ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THIS.