FREE 30 minute telephone session

Dealing With Depression counselling

Depression is a mood disorder that can take many forms: some days you may find it impossible to get out of bed, while other days you may feel more able to go about your normal daily tasks.

Living with depression can be incredibly difficult, not only for those suffering depression but also for those living with someone who has depression.

Relational dynamics change and nothing is as it seems, it puts incredible pressure on relationships and this in turn leads to guilt, arguments, low self worth and feelings of not being enough this all comes back around to deepen the depression and compound matters further.

What does depression feel like?

If you have depression, you are likely to have at least five of the following symptoms.

You may feel:

worthless
like life isn’t worth living
constantly anxious, tearful and worried
like you can’t concentrate
indecisive
irritable and intolerant of others
you are not getting enough enjoyment out of life
you have a lack of self-esteem
you have excessive and inappropriate guilt
you have no motivation or interest in things you used to enjoy

Lets Talk

You may experience:

changes in sleeping patterns – broken nights or oversleeping
changes in eating patterns – loss of appetite or overeating
tiredness and a loss of energy
persistent headaches and/or stomach upsets
chronic pain
a slower speaking pattern than usual
loss of libido
changes to the menstrual cycle
neglect hobbies and interests
isolate yourself from friends and family
take part in fewer social activities
notice your productivity falling at work

In some circumstances, you might not even notice that you have developed depression, especially if it has been a gradual process over several weeks or months. Sometimes it takes a friend, a family member or a partner to point out that you may have a problem.

Sometimes it’s instantly apparent what the cause is, but other times there isn’t an obvious reason why you feel so down. It could be that you’ve lost something or someone, or it could stem from disappointment or frustration. Usually, there will be more than one reason why you suffer from depression, and these reasons differ from person to person.

Common reasons behind the development of depression include:

Distressing life events

Distressing life events can take their toll on us. Divorce, family problems or losing a job are all momentous in our lives that can alter our mood.

Bereavement

Losing someone close to you can increase the risk. It’s not always just the loss that causes depression, it’s the way we deal with it. If you don’t grieve or express your feelings properly, they can build up and contribute to depression.

Childhood experiences

Your childhood experiences can affect you in adult life. If you were physically or emotionally abused, or not taught to cope with troubles that enter your life, it could lead you to have problems as you grow up.

Anger

Internal anger, being angry and upset with yourself for what you are doing, this can lead to pulling your hair out, self harm/ hurting yourself, or just Being angry (internally) at what you have become and what you are putting your loved ones through.
‘Frozen anger’ is a term that’s closely related to depression. You may have gone through something that caused you to become angry, but at the time you couldn’t express your feelings properly. This type of anger becomes suppressed; it can then build up and become a cause of depression.

Circumstances

Feeling like you’re alone, stressed, physically exhausted and/or have no one to talk to can all contribute to the condition.

Alcohol

Alcohol can be a trigger for depression, Regular heavy drinking can make you more susceptible to developing depression.
it can also be a Tool to Hide depression, some people use drink to bring out their alter ego, their fun outgoing side.

Lets Talk

Psychosomatic disorder

This is a physical illness or other condition caused or aggravated by a mental factor such as internal conflict depression or stress:

I thought it was worth talking about psychosomatic disorder Here because in my experience people rarely link depression with Real physical symptoms.

Psychosomatic disorder is a condition where Actual physical pain with symptoms around the body can start (and become debilitating at times) Often without any medical explanation, all as a result of stress.

Psychosomatic disorder can affect almost any part of the body. Common examples include:

Hormonal problems, an under-active thyroid
Viral infections, glandular fever, or flu (prevalent in younger people)
Fatigue
Insomnia
Aches and pains, such as muscle pain or back pain arthritis
Indigestion (upset stomach)
Irregular Eating habit/disorders
Headaches and migraines
Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
Life-threatening conditions, heart disease and cancer
Chronic conditions, diabetes and epilepsy

Pricing

What causes psychosomatic symptoms?

Scientists aren’t sure. Some believe that mental disorders, stress, depression releases hormones and chemicals in the body that cause damage or dysfunction.

How common is somatic symptom disorder?

Somatic symptom disorder is common, occurring in about 5% to 7% of the general population. For reasons that are not understood, women have somatic pain about 10 times more often than men.

Studies have found that certain things may make people more likely to have somatic symptoms:

Chaotic lifestyle.
Difficulty recognizing and expressing emotions.
Childhood neglect.
History of sexual abuse.
Other psychological conditions, such as depression or personality disorders.
Substance abuse (such as alcoholism or drug addiction).
Unemployment.

Different types of depression

There are several different forms of depression, including:

Mild depression – When depression symptoms have a limited impact on daily life. Generally, sufferers of mild depression will experience a persistent low mood and spirit. They may find it difficult to motivate themselves to do things they normally enjoy.

Major (clinical) depression – A more severe form that can lead to hospital admission. Symptoms will be more prominent and interfere with daily life. They can affect eating habits, sleeping, and other day-to-day activities. Some sufferers may feel suicidal and that life is no longer worth living.

Bipolar disorder – A form of manic depression characterised by extreme highs and lows. For example, a period of hyperactivity where sufferers are excited and planning overambitious tasks is followed by a period of severe depression.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – A form that’s closely related to the length of days. It typically occurs in the autumn and winter months when the days are shorter. Symptoms tend to alleviate when the days get brighter and longer. this can also be brought on by your bodies lack of vitamin D, if you feel this may be you make an appointment with your GP and let him know your symptoms.

Postnatal depression – A condition that can develop in anyone who gives birth or their partner following childbirth.

If you experience depression symptoms for most of the day, every day, for more than two weeks, you should seek help from your GP. If your feelings start affecting many parts of your life, this is a sign you may need professional support.

The parts of your life that depression can have a negative impact on include, but are not limited to:

relationships
work
interests
an overall sense of happiness and enjoyment

Thoughts of suicide and self-harm are also warning signs that your condition is getting worse. If you experience these, you should look to seek professional support.

For many, being treated for depression can seem an impossible task, but the sooner help is sought the better. In some cases, the illness can disappear without treatment. This is not always the case however and there is a danger that living with the condition will put significant emotional and physical strain on your health and well-being.

4 Simple Steps

How it works

In simple straightforward terms, here's how we can help you...

Sessions for Individuals & Couples

Session Pricing

The amount of sessions can be discussed and agreed at the beginning, however, we will reflect on progress every 6th session.

Individual Sessions

£60 1 Hour

Free 30min telephone/online session
Sessions are weekly
Reviewed every 6th session

Couples Sessions

£80 90 Minutes

Free 30min telephone/online session
Sessions are weekly
Reviewed every 6th session

DID YOU KNOW

Seeking help for yourself, helps others

We work with broken/marginalised people for free, so a portion of the cost of counselling sessions will help fund this. So not only will you be getting a first rate counselling service but you will be helping other people in their hour of need.

Lets talk