Help for Carers > Different caring situations > Caring for someone with a mental health problem > Depression

Depression

What is Depression?

‘Depression' is used to describe feelings of low mood such as feeling sad or fed up. However, if you, or the person you care for, is affected by depression, you are not 'just' sad or upset. You have an illness which means that intense feeling of persistent sadness, helplessness and hopelessness are accompanied by physical effects such as sleeplessness, a loss of energy, or physical aches and pains. Below is a list of the most common symptoms of depression. As a general rule, if you experience four or more of these symptoms, for most of the day nearly every day, for over two weeks, then you should seek help:

Avoiding other people, sometimes even your close friends

Difficulty concentrating

Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness

Finding it hard to function at work/college/school

Loss of appetite

Loss of sex drive and/or sexual problems

Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem

Not being able to enjoy things that are usually pleasurable or interesting

Persistent sadness

Physical aches and pains

Self-harm

Sleeping problems - difficulties in getting to sleep or waking up much earlier than usual

Thinking about suicide and death

Tiredness and loss of energy

Undue feelings of guilt or worthlessness

You can get more information from:

www.depressionalliance.org/

www.mind.org.uk - Understanding depression booklet

Bipolar (Manic Depression):

www.bipolaraware.co.uk/

www.mind.org.uk - Understanding manic depression booklet

Ante and Post Natal Depression:

http://apni.org/

www.pni-uk.com/

www.mind.org.uk - Understanding postnatal depression booklet

Search

If you are having trouble finding the information you need on this website you could try using one of the following search options:

Local Search
You can use this facility to search the Carers Online database for organisations in West Sussex that may be able to help you.

Search this Site
You can use this facility to search the website for a particular keyword or phrase.