Depression and Counselling for Depression:

Depression is a state of ‘low mood’ and only an illness in extreme cases. It is often difficult for a depressed person with low self-esteem to gather enough energy and enthusiasm to seek help, but when they do we first aim is to help them understand depression, second, to be able to control depression and finally to change their state of mind and feelings of depression.

We gain an understanding of depression through examining the assumptions that lead us into a depressed state (I am worthless/stupid/unloved/I feel rejected/life is unfair); and also through examining the negative and positive consequences of depression. There are positive consequences. When we are in a depressed mode others tend to take care of us, and do not expect too much from us. By understanding the route we take towards depression we realise that there were other routes we could have taken. We come to see that we have a choice whether or not to feel depressed.

Often clients who like to come off anti-depressants seek therapy. With the strict instruction of the clients doctor, we aim to help them cope with out anti-depressants and so therapy can become a substitute until they feel they no longer need any form of therapeutic help for their depression.

In short, when clients come us because they are depressed, we offer support and help for them in moving away from negative and self-defeating assumptions, which can be the cause of depression and towards a self-empowered hopeful future; one in which they feel  the ability to take responsibility for themselves and able to take full control of their lives.

As with many mental health problems, there are a number of symptoms of depression and it's very rare for all of them to occur in one person. They include feeling generally miserable, as well as:

• Variation of mood during the day. It's often worse in the morning, improving as the day goes on - but the pattern can be the other way around.

• Disturbed sleep, usually waking early and being unable to get back to sleep

• A general slowing down of thought, speech and movement

• Feelings of anxiety

• Tearfulness for no reason

• Short temper

• Lack of energy and constant exhaustion

• Inability to enjoy things

• Lack of concentration

• Difficulty making decisions

• Feeling that you're forgetful

• Negative thoughts about the future

• Feelings of guilt

• Loss of identity

• Blaming self and low self-esteem

• Feelings of hopelessness and despair

• Unrealistic sense of failure

• Loneliness, even when around others

• Becoming preoccupied with illness

• Loss of appetite and resulting loss of weight

• Reduced desire for sex

There are things you can do to help yourself.

• Notice 'thinking errors' - are you over generalising. For example, do you imagine every pain is a deadly disease? Do you tell yourself everything is going wrong when only one thing has gone wrong?

• Balance frightening thoughts with reassuring statements.

• Occupy your mind. Concentrating on something can lift your mood.

• Exercise. Physical activity relaxes you and makes you feel good.

• Pay attention to the way you look.

• Eat a regular diet of whole foods

• Central London Relationship, Marriage Counselling Service WC1 Est 1995