From time to time we all feel down or upset. Upsetting events happen to everyone – events such as a family death, illness, redundancy, change in lifestyle or relationship breakdown. For most people the feelings from these events pass.
But if you feel sad for more than two weeks over an issue , then there may be sometihing more serious developing than simply feeling down.
What is Depression?
A large range of symptoms can accompany depression and these can include feeling:
unhappy, feeling useless, unloved, self-harm, tired, fed up, even self harming
unable to concentrate, self reproach, guilty, angry, suicidal.
Depression creates a sense of isolation which prevents the sufferer from seeking assitance from other people. This is how depression differs from general unhappiness. Symptoms of depression will vary in duration, combination and in their re occurance depnding on the individual.
There is scientific debate whether a chemical imbalance in the brain causes depression or the depressed mood causes the chemical disturbance. More likely is that depression is caused by an ongoing interaction of social, physical and psychological pressures creating a downward spiral of depression. Depression can be viewed more holistically as a natural reaction to protect a person when things are too much and that it is part of a healing process.
A person will most likely initially consult with their doctor when they believe they are feeling depressed and medication may be required to suppresses overwhelming feelings. The downside of this is that the person may feel less alive and therefore may not be able to work out what is wrong or it takes longer for the person to return to a normal equilibrium, medication may prolong the natural cycle of depression and so be counter productive in the long term.
How Counselling Helps With Depression
Counselling can assist with regaining a sense of control and normality to life. There is agreement with counsellors that depression starts when we think we are not good enough. As you see yourself as unacceptable and sad the more drastic the things you must do. Depression is one of the most drastic things a person can exhibit. Counsellors recognises this view of self as key. The sense of failure to satisfy high internal expectations results in depression.
Counselling sessions provide the opportunity to enable the person to talk about and pinpoint the life issues that lead to the depression. Counselling can assist in understanding which aspects of life problems they may be able to rectify or improve upon and to make sense of and find their own path out of depression.
A counsellor, unlike a relative or close friend is able to assist the person impartially in identifying areas of the persons life that are resulting in the depression and to direct them in the right direction to solving the problem areas.
Want to find out more about Depression Counselling, then visit Tracy Mills’s site to learn more.Stockport Counsellor for counselling services.