Depression is more than just feeling unhappy or sad for a few days. We all feel down from time to time but depression is where you are constantly sad for weeks or months.
Some people think depression isn’t real and that you should “pull yourself together”. If only it was that easy.
But with the right treatment and support most people can recover from depression.
What can cause depression?
1. Stressful Events may trigger depression, especially if you are unsupported by family and friends. This could be losing your job or unemployment, relationship breakdown, bereavement, major life changes, being assaulted, bullied or abused.
2. Certain personality traits are more prone to suffer with depression, if you have low self-esteem, are overly self-critical or it can be inherited from your parents.
3. Family history can have an impact on whether you will have depression. If your parents or close member of you have family depression, it is more likely that you will suffer from depression too. This may be linked to our genes but could be because we learn our behavior and coping skills from the people around us as we grow up.
4. Giving birth can lead to post natal depression in some women. This is due to the hormonal and physical changes as well as being responsible for a new life.
5. Illness which is long standing, life threatening or a physical illness which will significantly change your lifestyle means you have a higher risk of depression. Head injuries, which sometimes aren’t diagnosed can trigger mood swings and emotional problems. Also if you have an underactive thyroid can cause tiredness, lack of interest in sex and can lead to depression.
6. Alcohol, recreational drugs and Medications can lead to depression. Alcohol and recreational drugs are sometimes taken when life is hard as a way to cope and block things out. This may feel good at the time but long term affect of “drowning your sorrows” can affect the chemical balance of your brain which increases the risk of depression. Cannabis is known to be a relaxant but long term use can cause depression. Certain medications have depression as side effect, always make sure you read the label with your medication and talk to your GP if this could be the case.
7. Loneliness which can be due to a relationship break up, losing touch with family and friends, moving to a new area and changing jobs can increase your risk of depression.
9. Poor sleep, diet and exercise can affect your mood and make it harder to cope if you have difficult things going on in your life. Even though lack of sleep, a poor diet and lack of exercise doesn’t directly cause depression, it can make you more vulnerable to getting it.10. Other Mental health problems you may suffer from like anxiety, eating disorders and PTSD may mean you also suffer from depression. This is because coping with your symptoms from other mental health problems can lead to depression.
Counselling at Aroma Senses can help you if you are suffering with depression
- I will listen to you without judging you.
- I can help you explore your feelings, acknowledge them and accept them.
- I can support you to find your own ways to cope with what you are going through
- I can help you discover and explore the root cause of your depression and regain your self-confidence.
- I work from a safe, confidential and calming environment.
- I will be there with you on your counselling journey so you are not alone.
- I work holistically and may use interventions and visualisations to help you.
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