Depression is a cruel disease that can affect anyone. It is very easy, once the symptoms begin, for a person to slide down the black hole of depression where the symptoms spiral and feed off each other, increasing in severity.
What is Depression?
Depression is a common condition with studies estimating that 2 out of 3 of us will experience an episode of depression in our lifetimes. However, although the problem of Depression is wide spread, surprisingly only 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men will access treatment of their depression.
In mild forms, feeling depressed, low in mood, sad or fed up can be considered an almost ‘universal experience’ for most of us. We normally feel sad or fed up when life is stressful or difficult for us. If feeling low in mood deteriorates and the feelings of low-mood stay with us for longer than two weeks then it may have developed into depression.
Symptoms of depression can significantly interfere with a person’s ability to live, work, maintain relationships, enjoy their life as they wish, and in severe cases if not treated can lead to hospitalisation.
What are the common symptoms of Depression?
There are a number of features commonly associated with an episode of depression. When people become depressed they often experience some of the following depressive symptoms:
- A Persistent feeling of low mood or unhappiness.
- A sense worthlessness and inadequacy with a loss of confidence.
- Feelings of guilt, anxiety and irritability.
- Feeling tired, a loss of energy, general aches and pains and little motivation to do things.
- Loss of interest and pleasure in day to day activities.
- Changes in appetite – either eating less or more.
- Sleep disturbance – difficulties getting off to sleep or early morning waking.
- Loss of interest in sex and or a reduction in libido.
- Difficulties in concentrating, making decisions and remembering things.
- A sense of hopelessness and helplessness about the future.
- Difficulties being around people leading to withdrawal and isolating self.
- Thoughts of death and suicide.
- Thoughts becomes extreme, negative / self critical and unhelpful.
People with depression may not necessarily experience all of these symptoms but the majority of us with depression will have five or six (Royal College of Psychiatrists 2010). If you experience these symptoms for a period up to two weeks or more it is important that you seek support as symptoms tend to get progressively worse with time.
Can CBT Therapy be used for Depression Treatment?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the treatment of choice for mild to moderate depression and if symptoms are severe then CBT has a greater effect when combined with medication.
Guidelines produced by National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommend Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as the effective psychological treatment to overcome depression, and it is why CBT is now a recommended choice of treatment by GP’s and Health Practitioners . According to ‘best evidence’ cognitive behavioural therapy not only has the best outcomes for the treatment of depression but in follow up studies it has the best record for maintaining the gains in cognitive behavioural treatment in the long-term too.
We are a pure cognitive behavioural therapy service based in Nottingham and all our CBT Experts are highly skilled and have helped 100’s of clients overcome Depression. So dont suffer in silence, call us and start making the changes today!
