Depression Counselling

Depression Counselling in Newcastle

Whilst occasional bouts of sadness are part of life’s ups and downs, depression goes beyond temporary blues. It can become an obstacle that makes everyday life seem overwhelming.

If you find yourself trapped in a persistent state of sadness or experience a significant decline in your mood, you may be suffering with depression. Depression Counselling can help you to work through this.

How do I Know I’m Depressed?

Different from your normal highs and lows, depression can cast a “darker shadow”, negatively impacting both your well-being and your relationships. You may also experience anxiety or lack of drive.  However, with therapeutic support, it is possible to regain control of your low mood, rediscover the joy in your life and work towards a brighter outlook.

 

Why do you stay in prison when the door is wide open?

Jalal ad-Din Rumi, Persian poet and mystic

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

Depression manifests itself in various ways, and recognising and understanding the symptoms is a helpful first step towards seeking help and feeling yourself again. Some common indicators include:

The Psychological Symptoms:

1. Persistent Sadness or Emptiness: Feeling consistently down and unable to shake off the negative emotions.
2. Loss of Interest and Libido: Losing enthusiasm for activities that once brought pleasure, including a decreased interest in intimacy.
3. Difficulty Making Decisions: Struggling to make even simple choices, as if your ability to reason has been clouded.
4. Inability to Cope: Finding it increasingly challenging to handle tasks or situations that were once manageable.

The Physical Symptoms:

1. Fatigue and Exhaustion: Experiencing a lack of energy and feeling constantly drained.
2. Frequent Crying: Shedding tears more frequently, even in response to minor triggers.
3. Irritability and Restlessness: Feeling agitated, restless, or easily annoyed.
4. Appetite and Sleep Disturbances: Experiencing significant changes in appetite, resulting in either weight loss or gain. Similarly, sleep patterns may be disrupted, leading to difficulty falling asleep or excessive sleeping.

The more you identify with the items on the list, and the stronger your feelings, the more likely it is that you are suffering from depression rather than just “having a bad day”.

Depression is a widespread condition that affects approximately 15% of the population at some point in your life.-Bromet

If you wish to read more about the potential of Depression Counselling to facilitate getting you back into the sunshine again read on… This is followed with a concise self-help and resources section.

 

1.  

What are the Best Treatments for Depression?

When it comes to addressing low mood, there are three main approaches employed either individually or blended. It is important to note that what works for one individual does not necessarily work for another.

1. Can I take Anti-Depressants? Although its effectiveness is debated by some experts, in practice, prescribed medication does seem to work for some individuals.  SSRI’s (Seretonin Selective Reuptake Inhibitor) in a range of varieties are the first line prescription in the UK. In this case, it maybe that the medication is enough in itself to alleviate the symptoms and no other treatment is required.
   
   For others, medication can help to stabilise them, reducing symptoms in the short term, and it can operate effectively alongside therapy. Of course it is advisable to consult with your GP to discuss medication.
   
   
2. Depression Counselling: Talking therapies have proven to be highly effective, particularly when cognitive behavioural techniques (CBT or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) are part of the methodology.

    Research supports that the strength of the relationship you have with your therapist is important in the success of the therapy, and this is particularly true for depression, where there is a requirement to match the therapy to individual need.  Therefore therapists trained and experienced  in applying a range of evidence based, theoretically derived techniques (called Integrative Therapy/Integrative Therapists) are beneficial to seek out. Interpersonal Therapy,  where the therapist works closely with the client is also indicated as depression tends to make us withdraw from others.

3. Rhythmic Exercise: Engaging in aerobic and rhythmic exercises, such as jogging or swimming, can significantly contribute to improving your mood, either as a standalone practice or in conjunction with other treatments. Finding an exercise routine that resonates with you and supports your overall well-being helps.

How Can Counselling Therapy Help My Depression?

Collaborating with a skilled counsellor or psychotherapist offers numerous benefits and provides you with tools for long-term well-being. For example:

1. Exploring the Cause of  Negative Feelings: Together with your therapist, you can delve into the underlying factors contributing to your negative affect. Identifying and understanding these causes is a crucial step towards finding effective solutions.
2. Developing Strategies to Combat Low Moods: Depression counselling equips you with practical techniques to counteract and manage your low moods. These strategies empower you to regain control over your emotional state.
3. Examining Thoughts and Behaviours: By examining your thoughts and behaviours that contribute to your low mood, therapy enables you to challenge negative patterns and adopt healthier perspectives.
4. Learning Long-Term Techniques: Therapy provides you with a repertoire of techniques that will serve you not only during the treatment but also throughout your life. These tools become a valuable resource to navigate future challenges and maintain emotional well-being.

Reflections about the “Black Dog“:

Churchill rather famously named his difficulties with negative mood,  as his “Black Dog”.

Richard O’Connor beautifully describes struggles with low mood as: “Depression is not just an illness, but a failure of creativity.” “Creativity is the antithesis of depression. It is a way of saying that what I think and feel matters“.

Therapy helps you as it nurtures creativity and fosters the belief that your thoughts and feelings are important. In so doing, you can choose to make deliberate efforts to make your mind “fertile”,  thereby creating new synapses and growing new connections – both metaphorically and in practice – creating meaning in your life again.

The Next Ste

At Reflexions Counselling and Psychotherapy, we are committed to providing compassionate support to help you to work through your low mood, whether it manifests as a deep sense of darkness or simply a “blue” feeling. Our therapeutic approach is supportive, non-judgmental, and tailored to your specific needs.

As the video implies, don’t lose hope. Therapy is a positive, helpful route to getting back to enjoying life again. If you are struggling with low mood, contact us and arrange to talk to one of our therapists about depression counselling in Newcastle/online – Phone 01915805080 or email

 

Resources & Self Help:

• Overcoming Depression – A self-help guide. Gilbert, P (2000). This provides practical ways of controlling low mood, with step-by-step guides to cope with depression, supported by case studies. Quite fat book with a lot of detail.
• Royal College of Psychiatrists – Good, clear information about depression, and treatment options. Worth a read. There’s a handout on here too
• NHS Depression – NHS information on Clinical Depression. Some good links and resources.
• Mood Juice – NHS Scotland self-help guide for depression.
• Reflexions Depression and Anxiety Assessment Tool – You may want to measure your anxiety and depression on a rating scale? This online assessment tool will help you measure symptom severity for anxiety and depression.
• Depression Alliance – Charitable organisation for sufferers of depression. Includes self-help groups.
• Mind: Understanding depression – Organisation which supports and provides a voice for people with mental health problems.
  Tel: 0300 123 3393 (Mon – Fri, 9am to 6pm)
• Young Minds – Resources focussing on young people and the people who can help them with their mental health.
• Headway – A charitable group providing support for brain injuries.