Our top tips!
- Don’t suffer in silence
If you are feeling low, it’s really important that you talk to somebody. Keeping it a secret may only make you feel worse. - Try to understand what is causing these feelings
If you can, work out what is causing these feelings and try to tackle them from the root cause. You may not be able to do this on your own, but there are other people who can help you to. - Get outside and do some exercise
It’s proven that fresh air and exercise can boost serotonin (a chemical in your brain that helps you feel happier). Try to exercise and go out as much as you can to help boost your mood. - Spend time with your friends and family
When you are feeling low it can be easy to find yourself locked away and on your own. If this happens, try to make extra effort to spend time with your family and friends. It can be difficult to bring yourself to do this, but it can have a positive impact on your mental health.
What is depression?
Depression is a mental health condition. It is hard to describe exactly what depression feels like, as it feels different for everyone. Depression can affect people at any point in their lives.
Feeling depressed, or feeling low, happens to lots of people, and anyone can suffer with depression. There are lots of people who can help you understand more, including doctors and trained counsellors. They can help you to find ways to feel better too.
When you feel like this, it’s easy to think that nobody around you understands your thoughts and experiences. The chances are that they do, or will at least want to try so that they can help you.
Reach out and speak to people when you are feeling low, whether it is friends, family or our friendly mentors. Even if they can’t help you directly, they may be able to point you towards resources that can help, or people who are better placed to support you.
Depression can have varying levels of impact, and people can experience different levels of depression at different times in their life. These include:
- Mild depression
- Moderate depression
- Severe or manic depression
If you think that you might be experiencing any of these, you should speak to someone about how you are feeling.
How can I tell if I have depression?
If you have some of the following symptoms, you may be suffering with depression.
Psychological Symptoms:
- Continuous low mood or sadness, or the feeling of hopelessness or helplessness.
- Having low self-esteem, feeling tearful or feeling irritable with others, and avoiding social interactions with friends.
- Losing motivation to do things and finding it hard to make decisions.
Physical Symptoms:
- Finding yourself moving and speaking slower than usual.
- Your appetite has changed, you are gaining and losing weight quicker than usual, feeling general aches and pains, or changes to how you sleep.
You can also look for these symptoms in people you know, so that you can be there for them and point them towards services or resources that can help them.
I think I might need some help... what do I do?
If you’ve been reading this page and are starting to worry that you might be suffering with depression, it’s really important that you start thinking about reaching out to somebody.
There are so many different options, and all of them will be able to help you in some way. Don’t suffer in silence; reach out to someone now to start getting the help you need.
Get support!
If you think you are suffering, reach out to somebody and get the support you need.
Speak to us
You don’t need to suffer in silence. If you think that you might be suffering with any mental health condition and you would like to talk to someone, our friendly mentors will always be on hand to talk with you.
Speak to somebody you trust
It’s really important that somebody close to you, who you can trust, knows about how you are feeling so that they can be there for you when you need them.
Speak to a doctor
Depression is a mental health condition and doctors can help. If you are feeling low and are starting to get worried, reach out to a doctor as soon as you can so that they can help you out.
How does depression affect me?
Depression affects everybody differently, and it’s really important for you to take the time to try and understand how it is affecting you. Some people can have very mild periods of feeling low, while for some people it can have more serious effects.
Many people who suffer with depression really see the benefits from making a few lifestyle changes to help them.
- Many people with depression often struggle to fall asleep, or wake up and get out of bed.
Take the time to properly get ready for bed. Make sure you’re not looking at screens late at night and you’re winding down at a reasonable time. Listening to a guided meditation or playing some relaxing sounds may also help you fall asleep. - Many people with depression have periods of struggling with social interaction
When you’re feeling low, it may be natural for you to distance yourself from the people you would normally spend time with. However, maintaining social interaction is really beneficial. It can help to make sure that somebody you trust knows about how you feel. That way, when you start to struggle, they will be able to reach out to you and support you.
Positive thinking exercises
When you’re feeling low, sometimes it is good to practice some positive thinking. One example you could try is filling a jar with small pieces of paper on, each with a positive thought on it. When you are feeling low, pull one from the jar.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present. It can help to decrease stress and sadness, and increase focus and happiness. There are many ways to engage in mindfulness and plenty of apps that can help, such as Calm and Headspace.
Taking time out
When you are feeling low, take some time out to do something that you enjoy. Use this as an opportunity to get out of the house and get some exercise, spend time with friends and family or even take up a new hobby.
Keeping a mood diary
One way to help you understand your mood is to keep a mood diary. Write down how you are feeling, and what has made you feel that way. When you are feeling low, you can look back at what triggers these feelings and try to understand and overcome them.
What can I do to help myself?
If you’re feeling low, there are many ways to get help. One way is to reach out and speak to someone who can help you. But for that to work, you need to be willing and able to help yourself as well.
We have put together some examples of things that you can do to help yourself when you are feeling low.