Depression And How To Help Beat It

There are several effective, scientifically-backed ways to lift your mood

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Depression is more than simply feeling a bit down for a few days. ‘When you’re depressed, you feel persistently sad for weeks, even months,’ says Dr. Melanie Wynne-Jones. ‘It can affect your energy levels, appetite, and how much joy you get from the things that would normally make you happy.’

Other symptoms can include anxiety, hopelessness, insomnia, feeling tearful, and having a variety of aches and pains. You can be affected by mild, moderate or severe depression and, in extreme cases, you may get suicidal thoughts. But there are things that can help you cope.

See your GP

Seek help if your low mood hasn’t disappeared after two weeks, or keeps on returning for days at a time, week after week, and affects your everyday life. Don’t put it off – the sooner you get an appointment, the sooner you can get some help. ‘People often wait too long before asking for help because they (incorrectly) believe that depression is something they just have to “get on with”,’ says Dr WynneJones. But there’s effective support and treatment available, and your GP knows your medical history and can ask about circumstances and family history – important to help you find the treatment that is right for you.

Consider medication

Antidepressants sometimes get a bad press, particularly when women may be left on them for years without other interventions to help shift depression. However, they can be very effective at relieving symptoms of moderate or severe depression, leading to a lift in mood, enabling you to then address the causes of it through therapy.

Sleep