Depression

I feel low or depressed

It is impossible to feel happy all the time, and normal to have varying moods over a day or a week.  Having a “down” day is normal, but some people find that they are experiencing consistently low moods.

If you are experiencing low moods you may feel sad, tearful or perhaps numb.  It is common to feel tired all the time.  You may have issues with your sleep – either sleeping too much or waking up early. 

Depression can occur at different times of your life and some people have recurring bouts of low mood.  Up to 1 in 5 women feel depressed either before or after having a baby.  Other life experiences may also make you feel low such as losing a job, relationship break ups and bereavement.  Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) makes people feel depressed in the winter months and is thought to be caused by low levels of sunlight.

There are varying levels of depression from mild to more severe but if you find that feeling low is becoming an issue for you, perhaps affecting your work, education or relationships, it might be helpful to access some counselling or therapy.

If you are feeling so low that you are having thoughts of killing yourself then you need to seek immediate help.  Make an emergency appointment with your GP, visit A & E or ask someone to help you doing this.  If you’d like to speak to someone straight away then contact the Samaritans on 01482 323456 (local call charges apply) or the national helpline on 116 123 (this number is free to call).