Depression
How people experience depression
Depression is a a term we all know. We use it to describe all sorts of situations from a bad mood right through to clinical depression. It is this last form of depression - clinical depression - that has emerged in recent times as a significant, chronic issue for many Australians.
Depression, at least in the early stages, often isn't recognised by the person who has it. Instead, they may feel that things are 'just fine'. It's more often noticed by those close to them; family, friends and workmates - those who are affected by it.
Others are fully aware of their depression and the constant battle they have with it.
Getting treatment for depression
Recognised treatments for depression include psychotherapy and medication. As a psychotherapist I can't offer you medication - for that you need to see a doctor or a psychiatrist. If you do, they might prescribe anti-depressants (of which there are a number of different types). If they are prescribed for you, take some time to do your own research into the likely side-effects of the brand prescribed for you, how long you are likely to be on them and the need for any staged withdrawal from them. The other thing about anti-depressants are that they don't actually change any of the external things that contribute to your depression.
However, psychotherapy - alone or in combination with prescribed medications - can also help a lot. This is the chance to find out what is making you depressed, what you can do about it and the reasons things might be like they are. Even the ability to talk and get things off your chest can provide a big relief for many people.
In many cases, you may find that there are some circumstances - typically a relationship with another person - in their lives which is contributing to the way they feel. If this is true for you, this is a chance to explore this and find out what changes you can make. It's no quick fix but I feel for many people it can offer a sustainable improvement, and may lead to more effective results than those achieved with prescribed medications alone.
