Low Mood and Depression

Changes in mood are normal, even useful, aspects of life but sometimes our moods can become a negative spiral, a black hole from which it’s hard to escape.

Maybe you often find yourself feeling a variety of these things and you’ve felt them for a while now.

You feel…

• like it’s hard relating to others

• down, upset and tearful or restless or irritable

• guilty, negative and critical of yourself

• you’re turning over a cycle of anxious / negative thinking around in your mind

• empty and numb

• very little enjoyment in life

• a lack of confidence

• hopeless and despairing

• suicidal

Maybe you’re finding your behaviour has changed and you find yourself acting in some of these ways:

• avoiding social events or activities you enjoyed

• struggling to speak or think clearly

• difficulty in remembering or concentrating on things

• increasing use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs

• having trouble sleeping, or sleeping too much

• feeling constantly tired

• self-harming or suicidal behaviour

• losing interest in sex

• no appetite and losing weight, or over-eating and gaining weight

• physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause

• moving slowly or dashing about in an agitated way

Causes

Depression and low mood can be caused by all sorts of things ranging from physical problems right through to distressing life events, significant loss (job, role, partner, children leaving, bereavement etc), childhood experiences and unresolved emotional processes. Even the time of year or changes in circumstance can trigger a gradual or sudden shift in ongoing mood. The important thing is to act early in seeking help. However you may feel, treat yourself as someone who is worth helping.

How might I help?

If you recognise some of the above in your life, it is worth talking to your G.P. as well as seeking counselling as there can be different causes of significant mood change or depression. While there are no ‘quick fixes’ for low-mood or depression and it may have a variety of causes, talking therapy / counselling is one of the main recommended means of treatment (possibly alongside prescribed medication). As a counsellor, my approach would be to sit with you, listen to you and allow you to talk (or not talk) at your pace. We can explore anything that may have led up to this as well as strategies that may help you manage your thoughts and feelings.

Counselling provides a safe and confidential place to talk about difficulties that you can leave behind in the therapy room.

If you’ve got any questions at all, or you’re wondering if I can work with you on another issue, please don’t hesitate to ask. You can call on 01329 661926 and leave a message if you’re happy for me to call you back or send me an enquiry by clicking on ‘Enquiry’. Alternatively, you could book an initial session via the website.