Depression is more than just sadness; it’s a combination of how we think, feel and behave. Sometimes, we can feel depressed because of a stressful event, like school exams or a relationship break-up. Other times, the reason might be unclear. And that’s OK, too.
While the experience can be different from person to person, there are some common signs and symptoms to look out for.
Visit our depression page for more information or contact LifeLine or Kids Helpline. Help and Support is available.
Transcript
Depression is more than just sadness. It’s a combination of how we think, feel and behave. Sometimes we can feel depressed because of a stressful event like school exams or a relationship breakup. Other times the reason might be unclear and that’s ok too. We might hear the word depression being used in everyday life to describe feelings like sadness or low mood. For some, the experience can be more intense, last longer and interfere with daily functioning. This is what in the mental health world we call major depression. Depression is slightly different for everyone but there are some common signs and symptoms to look out for. A person may be experiencing major depression if they’ve noticed some of the following changes for more than two weeks. Feeling unhappy, numb, worthless, guilty, moody or irritable. Thinking of themselves and the world in a negative light. Finding everyday activities too hard. Changes to their appetite. Having thoughts about self harm, death or suicide. Feeling tired but having trouble sleeping. Withdrawing from family and friends.
Using more alcohol or other drugs. Depression can sometimes find a way to creep into our lives. Often it starts with feeling sad, tired and uninterested in activities that usually bring us joy. This can cause us to withdraw from hobbies, work, study, family and friends. It can also lead us to neglect our responsibilities. We start feeling increasingly guilty, hopeless or ineffective which makes us feel more depressed, unmotivated and fatigued. Eventually this can become a tricky cycle to navigate.
The good news is that people experiencing depression, can and do get better. Here are three small steps that can help reverse the cycle of depression.
The first step could be writing down what you want to say. This can help you organise and express your thoughts. Step two could be identifying someone you feel like you can confide in. That might be a friend, family member or someone else you trust. For example a leader, an elder, your Sheik or Imam, your youth pastor, a teacher, a coach or one of your parents’ friends. If you’re not ready to share how you’re feeling with people you know, you could reach out to online communities or speak to a professional.
You might find that talking to others can help you feel less alone. It can also help you see things from a different point of view. Life is full of ups and downs, it’s normal to feel low but if depression is sticking around, it’s a good idea to address it. It might feel hard at first but small steps can make a real difference. Remember you’re not alone and help is out there. If you’re a young person aged 12 to 25 looking to talk to a mental health professional visit eheaspace for free online support or contact your local headspace centre.
For more information on managing depression visit headspace.org.au
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DepressionSpeaking to someone about your problems can be the first steps to a solution.
