Depression
If we look honestly at our lives, we will admit they look somewhat like a roller coaster. Our lives are not static, however much we would like them to be, and try to make them. Life changes, and our normal human response is to grieve what’s gone, and fear what is new and unknown. This means that our lives are naturally interspersed with periods of sadness.
For some, and for many varied reasons, ranging from past and current experiences to complex body physiology, the ‘down feeling’ dominates. This may have always been, may have happened suddenly, or may have been a gradual process of sliding.
There are many similarities between grief and depression, and a grief process can often trigger a depressive episode. To quote a psychotherapist with 30 years of clinical experience, “I have never seen a single person with depression, who didn’t have 20 good reasons”.
Regardless of how it began and for what reason, talking about it and learning about it can help. Staying alone in it, even though that may feel desirable, generally is not.
Counselling and going to see your GP can support you to get clarity around what you are experiencing, and find what you need.
(above with thanks to Shivawn Davis.com)
Go and see your Doctor
Going to the doctor to talk about depression or anxiety is a reallly good idea.
Talking to your GP about a change in your mental health is a very good place to start to get you on the road to recovery. GP’s care for many people who are feeling low or distressed. They can help you find a way back to a better frame of mind.
If you are going to see the doctor about feeling sad, overly worried, irritated, or generally tired and stressed, there are some things you can do to get the most out of the consultation.
1. Keep a diary leading up to the consultation. Some things doctors are interested in include:
- what time you went to bed
- what time you got up in the morning
- use of alcohol or other drugs
- mood, how did you feel each day
- any particularly bad times, and what happened at that time
- any particularly good times, and events around that
Some excellent mood diaries include:
2. Take a standardised questionnaire about mood. There are some questionnaires that help your doctor know where you are at –try the K10 here.
If you are pregnant or have a new baby, it may be useful instead to try the Edinburgh postnatal depression score, here.
Each of these can be printed out, filled in and reviewed with your doctor at your consultation.
3. Book a longer appointment. It will take time for you and your doctor to talk about your problems, and come up with the best treatment plan. A 30 minute appointment is suitable for this.
4. Go to you apppointment with an open mind. Many things help improve mood, but they all involve change from one’s current lifestyle, habits and thoughts. It can be challenging to be kinder to yourself, change your habits, walk more, drink less and go to talk to a mental health professional or take medication. However in the end, it will make life much better for the person suffering from depression or anxiety, and their family, so be prepared to consider all the options to find what is best for you.
There are Medicare rebates for psychological services available if it is decided that this will be beneficial.
Some downloadable PDF resources
Managing Depression with Exercise
St. John’s Wort as a Treatment for Depression
Websites
