Do I have a problem with depression?

Understanding and admitting that you have a problem with depression is the first big step towards seeking help, finding appropriate treatment and getting your life back. This is, in itself, an important milestone and we understand how difficult it can be.

The symptoms of depression are largely focused around depressed behaviour, distorted thinking and sometimes physical symptoms (see below).

When considering your current thoughts, behaviour patterns, physical health and relationships, do any of these issues apply?

Thoughts and behaviour patterns

• You are unable to enjoy life anymore.
• You have lost interest in activities you used to enjoy – for example, going out, hobbies or sex.
• Your mood is persistently low or depressed.
• You are struggling to concentrate on everyday tasks you can usually perform.
• You are not taking care of yourself – for example eating poorly, not washing every day, or staying in bed.
• You feel 'flat' or numb.
• You are struggling to make decisions or remember things.
• You are experiencing increased mood swings, irritability or restlessness.
• You are struggling to control persistent negative thoughts.
• You have overwhelming feelings of guilt, worthlessness or self-loathing.
• You are hypercritical of your perceived mistakes or flaws.
• You feel hopeless, that life is no longer worth living or that you are unable to improve your situation.
• You have experienced episodes of paranoia.

Physical symptoms

• You are struggling to sleep (insomnia), are sleeping too much (hypersomnia) – or have disturbed sleep.
• You have low energy levels and feel lethargic or sluggish.
• Everyday tasks seem to take you longer to do and are exhausting.
• You are eating too much or have lost your appetite.
• You have gained or lost a significant amount of weight over a relatively short period of time.
• You have unexplained physical or digestive pain – for example, headaches, muscle pain, back or stomach aches.

Social

• You are becoming increasingly preoccupied or distant from those around you.
• You have started neglecting important relationships – for example, spending less and less time with your partner or spouse, children or friends.
• You are doing less of the things that were important to you, for example, going out, seeing friends or family, or enjoying hobbies.
• You are neglecting responsibilities at home or work – for example, not taking proper care of your children or underperforming in your job.

If you can relate to any of these, it may be time for you to get help to deal with your depression.

At Life Works, we believe that depression has become a problem when the symptoms persist and it begins to cause serious problems for the individual – whether they are professional, relationship, health, financial, legal or other problems.

As a leading, private behavioural health clinic for the treatment of depression, Life Works is able to help you.

If you need help or advice about your loved one's problem with depression, please call us on 0800 081 0700 to speak to one of our counsellors in confidence or email us for more information.

We can answer any questions or concerns you may have, and help you find the right treatment.

Not sure if you have a problem?

Denial is common and symptomatic of depression, so you may deny that you have a problem both to yourself and to others, through:

• Minimising the impact of your depression on your health.
• Criticising those around you for making too much fuss about your depressed behaviour or physical symptoms.
• Concealing your depression from your friends and family.
• Placing the blame for your depression on other people or situations in your life, such as "I'm depressed because my job is so stressful".

It is worth considering why you feel the need to do any of these things if you don't have a problem with depression. It is likely that you are depressed but you are not ready to admit this to yourself or to anyone else.

Why admitting you have a problem can be so hard

Hopelessness is a key characteristic of depression. It is one of the few illnesses which perpetuates itself, as one of the symptoms of depression is that it tells you that your situation is hopeless – and that there is no point in getting help. This is one of the reasons why many individuals stay trapped with depression for a lifetime – unless they get help. We advise you to stay open to the feedback from friends, family and professionals, and look at the evidence.

Why it is so important to get help

At Life Works, we know that depression is an illness. This is central to our clinical philosophy and underpins our approach to treatment. We use the latest neuroscientific thinking to inform our understanding of how problems with depression affect the individual and how we can provide effective treatment of these problems.

Being depressed means that you have an illness which affects different parts of the brain and seriously impairs your ability to think clearly and to make choices. This means that over time, your decision-making ability and your behaviour become increasingly affected by your distorted thinking, to the detriment of everything else in your life – your partner, job, family and friends. Withdrawing from your life and your relationships becomes your number one priority. You may have done things that you feel deeply ashamed about but you couldn't avoid doing them because you felt an overwhelming need to isolate yourself from those around you.

Feeling ashamed or guilty about your behaviour can be incredibly difficult and often increases your need to isolate, if only to help you feel better. But the satisfaction or relief you feel each time becomes more and more short-lived and, over time, this will worsen the problem for you and leave you with feelings of loneliness, fear, shame and desperation. Sadly, many individuals do not ask for help when they really need it, to the extent that their depression worsens to the point of crisis - psychologically and physically.

Is it really a problem?

Depression is a progressive, life-threatening, psychiatric illness. If left untreated, it greatly increases the risk of suicide and can lead to emotional or physical injury, through loss of job or career, loss of relationships with your partner, family or friends, or development of addictions or other behavioural health issues. Other effects of depression can include self-neglect and severe mood swings, to the extent that individuals with depression often put themselves in dangerous situations.

Being in this situation can be terrifying, exhausting, upsetting and deeply shaming. The future may seem totally bleak and pointless, and the only thing that seems bearable is being alone.

What is recovery?

There are many misconceptions about what being "in recovery" means. Recovery is commonly misunderstood, especially by people who have not received treatment and also among their friends and families.

At Life Works, we truly understand that the prospect of recovery can seem frightening. You may believe that recovery offers you nothing but a lifetime of having to live with your own problems, frustrations and feelings without even being able to isolate when you need to. Imagining your life like this may seem incredibly daunting and overwhelming. Faced with a choice between your life as it is, or recovery, it is understandable why you may have reservations about recovery.

However, by finding the strength to seek professional help, you will get the support and guidance you need to start reaping the benefits of the first stage of recovery.

We believe recovery is about so much more than breaking through the cycle of distorted thought patterns and depressed behaviour. We define recovery as getting your life back, especially those aspects that are valuable and precious to you. It also means putting more into your life than you may have previously and finding meaning either once again, or for the first time ever. Recovery means creating a healthy, fulfilling and meaningful life that is characterised by healthier thought patterns, more effective tools for coping with the stresses of life, and a greater connection with yourself, those close to you and the larger community.

At Life Works, we strongly believe that recovery is not about what you are taking out of your life, but rather what you put back into it. Depression is a disease of isolation and the life of someone with depression tends to get smaller and smaller. Recovery is about expanding and enhancing your life.

By taking that first step and receiving treatment for your depression at Life Works, you will be able to start leading the new life you deserve.

Life Works is a leading, private behavioural health clinic for the treatment of depression.

If you need help or advice about your problem with depression, please call us on 0800 081 0700 to speak to one of our counsellors in confidence or email us for more information.

We can answer any questions or concerns you may have and help you find the right treatment.