Depression More than just meh!

Also on HeadRKT

We all feel fed up, miserable or sad at times. These feelings don't usually last longer than a week or two, and they don't interfere too much with our lives.

Sometimes there's a reason, sometimes they just come out of the blue. We usually cope with them ourselves. We may have a chat with a friend but don't otherwise need any help. Someone is said to be significantly depressed, or suffering from depression, when:

• the feelings of depression don't go away quickly and
• those feelings are so bad that they interfere with everyday life.

What does it feel like to be depressed?

The feeling of depression is much more powerful and unpleasant than the short episodes of unhappiness that we all experience from time to time. It goes on for much longer. It can last for months rather than days or weeks. Most people with depression will not have all the symptoms listed here, but most will have at least five or six.

Do you:

• feel unhappy most of the time (but may feel a little better in the evenings)
• lose interest in life and can't enjoy anything
• find it harder to make decisions
• can't cope with things that you used to
• feel utterly tired
• feel restless and agitated
• lose appetite and weight (some people find they do the reverse and put on weight)
• take 1-2 hours to get off to sleep, and then wake up earlier than usual
• lose interest in sex
• lose your self-confidence
• feel useless, inadequate and hopeless
• avoid other people
• feel irritable
• feel worse at a particular time each day, usually in the morning
• think of suicide.

We may not realise how depressed we are, because it has come on so gradually. We may be determined to struggle on and can blame ourselves for being lazy or feeble.

We may try to cope with our feelings of depression by being very busy. This can make us even more stressed and exhausted. We will often notice physical pains, constant headaches or sleeplessness.

Sometimes these physical symptoms can be the first sign of a depression.

Why does it happen?

As in the everyday depression that we all experience from time to time, there will sometimes be an obvious reason for becoming depressed, sometimes not. There is usually more than one reason, and these are different for everybody.

The reason may seem obvious. It can be a disappointment, frustration, losing something or someone important. Sometimes it isn't clear why we feel depressed. We're just 'in a mood'. We really don't know why. Either way, these feelings can become so difficult to manage that we need help.

Things that happen in our lives

It is normal to feel depressed after a distressing event, such as bereavement, a divorce or losing a job. We may spend time over the next few weeks or months thinking and talking about it. After a while we seem to come to terms with what's happened. But some of us get stuck in a depressed mood, which doesn't seem to lift.

Circumstances

If we are alone, have no friends around, are stressed, have other worries or are physically run down, we are more likely to become depressed. If you're a first year, you may not yet know how to feed yourself properly, you're probably fairly isolated and working really hard to meet people, neglecting basic issues such as hygiene and study. If you're like everybody else in the world, you'll find this stressful. It's hard for everybody to be away from home and friends, and this can get you down.

Alcohol

Many people who drink too much alcohol become depressed. It often isn't clear as to which came first the drinking or the depression. We know that people who drink too much are more likely to kill themselves than other people. And no one here in the headRKT? crew can think of anybody who doesn't get the blues after a tough night out on the beer, wine, gin etc.

Gender

Women seem to get depressed more than men do. This is possibly because of all the shitty things men do on women. Then again it could be because women are generally more expressive than men. This is obviously a stereo typed view, and I think it's a load of crap. Depressing circumstances are attributes of the person/environment interaction, to which we all have access at one time or another. It's a draw between boys and girls on this one.

What about manic depression?

About 1 in 10 people who suffer from serious depression will also have periods when they are elated and overactive. This used to be called Manic Depression, but is now often called Bipolar Affective Disorder. However, if you have it, you can call it whatever you like. It affects the same number of men and women and tends to run in families.

When should I seek help?

• When your feelings of depression are worse than usual, and don't seem to get any better
• When your feelings of depression affect your work, interests and feelings towards your family and friends.
• If you find yourself feeling that life is not worth living, or that other people would be better off without you.

It may be enough to talk things over with a relative or friend, who may be able to help you through a bad patch in your life. If this doesn't seem to help, you probably need to talk it over with your doctor or student counselling service. You may find that your friends and family notice a difference in you and are worried about you.

Helping yourself

Don't keep it to yourself
If you've had some bad news, or a major upset, try to tell someone close to you, and tell them how you feel. It often helps to go over the painful experience several times, to cry about it, and to talk things over with someone. This is part of the mind's natural way of healing.

Do something
Get out of doors for some exercise, even if only for a walk. This will help you to keep physically fit, and you may sleep better. You may not feel able to work, but it is always good to try to keep active. This could be housework (yes, cleaning), do-it-yourself (even as little as changing a light bulb, but do not renovate your landlords house) or any part of your normal routine (Study?). It can help take your mind off painful thoughts which make you more depressed.

Eat well
Try to eat a good, balanced diet, even though you may not feel like eating. Fresh fruit and vegetables are particularly good. Depression can make you lose weight and run short of vitamins, which only makes matters worse, particularly if you're an emaciated student. Next time, don't ask your folks for money, say you need vitamins; you'll probably get the money too!

Beware alcohol!
Resist the temptation to drown your sorrows with a drink. Alcohol actually makes depression worse. It may make you feel better for a few hours, but will then make you feel worse again. Too much alcohol stops you from seeking the right help and from solving problems; it is also bad for your physical health.

Sleep
Try not to worry about finding it difficult to sleep. Ignore the radio clock, or mobile phone clock. If you're worrying about what time it is, you'll feel more anxious and find it harder to sleep. If you keep busy and active during the day, you'll sleep better at night. Go to the library and do some of those assignments, join a club, soccer, camogie, chess! It can be helpful to listen to the radio or watch TV while you're lying down and resting your body, even if you can't sleep. If you can occupy your mind in this way, you may feel less anxious and find it easier to get off to sleep

Tackle the cause
If you think you know what is behind your depression, it can help to write down the problem and then think of the things you could do to tackle it. Pick the best things to do and try them.

• you are suffering from an experience which many other people have gone through.
• you will eventually come out of it, although you may find it hard to believe at the time.
• depression can be a useful experience you may come out of it stronger and better able to cope. It can help you to see situations and relationships more clearly.
• you may be able to make important decisions and changes in your life, which you were avoiding before.

What kind of help is available

Many people with depression are treated by their family doctor. Depending on your symptoms, the severity of the depression and the circumstances, the doctor may suggest some form of talking treatment, antidepressant tablets, or both.

Psychotherapy/counselling.

Simply talking about your feelings can be helpful, however depressed you are. Your GP may have a counsellor at the surgery who you can talk to.

If you have become depressed while suffering from a disability or caring for a relative, then sharing experiences with others in a self-help group may give you the support you need.

If you are not able to get over the death of someone close to you, it is particularly helpful to talk about it with someone.

Sometimes it is hard to express your real feelings even to close friends. Talking things through with a trained counsellor or therapist can be easier. It can be a relief to get things off your chest. If you can have another person's undivided attention for a while, you are likely to feel better about yourself. There are many different sorts of psychotherapy available, some of which are very effective for people with mild to moderate depression.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps people overcome the negative thoughts that can sometimes be the cause of depression. Interpersonal and dynamic therapies can be helpful if you find it difficult to get on with other people.

Talking treatments do take time to work. Sessions usually last about an hour and you might need anywhere from 5 to 30 sessions. Some therapists will see you weekly, others every 2 to 3 weeks. You may be asking yourself how you're supposed to fit this in with the rest of your life, how you can afford it. If you feel you need help, get in touch with your student counselling service, or if that sounds too hard, get in touch with headRKT@grabaGAFF.com, and we'll help you source your student counsellor. We're not going to carry you there, so start preparing yourself to get a handle on your situation.

How do talking treatments work?

It depends on what form of therapy you have. Just sharing your worries with someone else can help you feel less alone with your troubles and feel supported.

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps you to look at and change the ideas you have that make you depressed
• Counselling can help you to be clearer about how you feel about your life and other people
• Dynamic therapies help you to see how your past experiences may be affecting your life here and now
• Talking in groups can be helpful in changing how you behave with other people. You get the chance, in a safe and supportive environment, to hear how people see you, and the opportunity to try out different ways of behaving and talking.

Antidepressants

If your depression is severe or goes on for a long time, your doctor may suggest that you take a course of antidepressants. These are not tranquillisers, although they may help you to feel less anxious and agitated. They can help people with depression to feel better and cope more effectively, so that they can start to enjoy life and deal with their problems effectively again.

It is important to remember that, unlike many medicines, you won't feel the effect of antidepressants straight away. People often don't notice any improvement in their mood for 2 or 3 weeks, although some of the other problems may improve more quickly. For instance, people often notice that they are sleeping better and feeling less anxious in the first few days.

How do antidepressants work?

The brain is made up of millions of cells which transmit messages to one another using tiny amounts of chemical substances called neurotransmitters. Upwards of 100 different chemicals are active in different areas of the brain. It is thought that in depression, two of these neurotransmitters are particularly affected Serotonin, sometimes referred to as 5HT, and Noradrenalin.

Antidepressants increase concentrations of these two chemicals at nerve endings, and so seem to boost the function of those parts of the brain that use Serotonin and Noradrenalin.

Problems with antidepressants

Like all medicines, antidepressants do have some side-effects, though these are usually mild and tend to wear off as the treatment goes on. The newer antidepressants may make you feel a bit sick at first and you may feel a little more anxious for a short while. The older antidepressants can cause a dry mouth and constipation. Unless the side-effects are very bad, your doctor is likely to advise you to carry on with the tablets.

As with any group of medicines, different antidepressants have different effects. Your doctor can advise you on what to expect, and will want to know about anything that worries you. Make sure your pharmacist gives you an information leaflet with the tablets. Many people wonder if these tablets will make them drowsy. Generally, tablets which make you sleepy are taken at night, so any drowsiness can then help you to sleep. However, if you feel sleepy during the day, you should not drive, fly or work with machinery till the effect wears off.

You can eat a normal diet while taking most of these tablets (if not, your doctor will tell you) and they don't cause problems with pain-killers, antibiotics or the Pill. You should avoid alcohol, though. It can make you very sleepy if you drink while you are taking the tablets (which is NOT to be interpreted as an answer to sleeplessness!).

People often worry that antidepressants are addictive. You may get withdrawal symptoms if you stop an antidepressant suddenly these can include anxiety, diarrhoea, vivid dreams or even nightmares. This can nearly always be avoided by slowly reducing the dose before stopping. Unlike drugs such as Valium, Cannabis, Nicotine or Alcohol, you don't have to keep taking an increasing amount to get the same effect and you will not find yourself craving an antidepressant.

How can I help someone who is depressed?

Be a good listener. This can be harder than it sounds. Conversation is usually a competition where each person waits for an opening wherein to wedge their two cent. Good listeners always elect to lose. It's usually best not to offer advice unless it's asked for, even if the answer seems perfectly clear to you.

• Make sure that they are buying enough food and eating enough
• Help them to stay away from alcohol
• If they are getting worse, and start to talk of not wanting to live, or even hinting at harming themselves, take them seriously. Make sure that they tell their doctor.

Try to help them to accept the treatment. Don't discourage them from taking medication, or seeing a counsellor or psychotherapist. If you have worries about the treatment, then you may be able to discuss them first with the doctor.

* Remind yourself that.