Depression

Village Counselling, located in Woodvale WA has been helping adults of all ages recover from depression.  Specialising in women’s mental health, Village Counselling understands the environments and histories that contribute to women’s depression.

Am I depressed or am I feeling low?

Many of us will feel low or down at different stages in our life.  Typically low mood and feeling down relates to not getting something or loosing something or someone important to you.  For example, a job promotion or your best friend relocating a long way from you.  This may have you experiencing some of the behaviours, feelings, thoughts and physical sensations listed below, but you still have the ability to experience genuine happiness, connections to others and an ability to get things done.  Your low mood or feeling down does not dominate most of your day for many days at a time.  You have a sense of trust for a good future.

Depression on the other hand, has you feeling disconnected from others with a loss of interest in the things that would normally bring you enjoyment.  You feel very stuck in this state and loose hope in your future.

Physical sensations common to depression:

  • Fatigued all the time
  • Joint and muscle pains
  • Body stiffness
  • Headaches or backache
  • Sleep difficulties. Typically experienced as waking during the night and being unable to get back to sleep
  • Gut problems
  • Changes in weight
  • Change of appetite
  • Feeling sick or nauseous
  • Feeling anxious

Thoughts common to depression:

  • “I don’t matter to anyone”
  • “I’m a failure…waste of space….I’m worthless’
  • “No one would notice or care if I was not here”
  • “I don’t belong in this world”
  • “It’s all my fault”
  • “What’s the point”
  • “I’m always depressed”

Feelings common to depression:

  • Guilty and hopelessness
  • Unhappy, sad or miserable
  • Irritable
  • Frustrated
  • Indecisive, you no longer know what you want
  • Lacking in confidence and feeling like you don’t know who you are anymore

Behaviour common to depression:

  • Poor memory and an inability to concentrate
  • Isolating yourself from friends and family
  • Withdrawing from social activities and going out in general
  • Not finishing tasks and often leaving tasks soon after starting them
  • Loss of interest in personal appearance or hygiene
  • A flat voice tone
  • Hiding yourself away in small or dark spaces
  • Ignoring the phone or doorbell
  • Taking many sick days off work

Other ways you may try to manage your depression:

  • Smoking too much
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Misusing over the counter medication
  • Increasing your use of illicit substances, most commonly marijuana
  • Holding a suicide plan in your mind as an option

What are some of the situations that can result in the development of depression?

  • Being in an emotionally abusive, disrespectful or physically violent relationship
  • Being bullied or humiliated privately, publically or via the Internet
  • Being asked to perform beyond what you feel capable of achieving, or in childhood, being expected to achieve beyond your developmental level
  • Being ignored, invalidated, assaulted, neglected or physically and emotionally abused as a child or young person and this has left you with thoughts of worthlessness and hopelessness
  • Being involved in a traumatic event. For example, rape, assault, car accident, complicated delivery of a baby; bank hold-up, witnessing a serious crime or environmental catastrophe
  • Loosing someone close or living with the knowledge that someone close will soon die
  • Using a mind-altering substance. Most mind altering substances, particularly illicit substances, may make you feel good in the beginning but eventually they lead to the development of anxiety and depression
  • Bankruptcy
  • Loss of employment and/or financial independence
  • Frequent physical pain or becoming disabled
  • Being sleep deprived due to your need to care for a new baby, a disabled child, aging parents or your own physical disability or needs
  • Being ostracized from family or others of significance to you
  • A history of complex trauma. For example, there have been many times starting in childhood when you have been inappropriately disciplined, assaulted, neglected, made to feel worthless or unworthy of love or achievement

What can you do – You need to take action:

There are a number of actions you can take and professionals you can turn to who can help you recover.

  • Consult with your GP with a view to taking anti depression medication. If you are prescribed medication, you will need to take it as prescribed and for the length of time recommended.  Combining prescription medication with any of the following will hasten your recovery
  • Engage in therapy with a counsellor or therapist who brings to their practice a wide range of evidenced based therapeutic interventions and experience. For example, A Registered and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, A Clinical Psychologist or Registered Psychologist.  If your depression is a result of trauma or complex trauma, seek a therapist with up-to-date and accredited trauma training and experience

Village Counselling has the qualifications, experience and specialised training in depression to help you begin your journey of recovery.  Please call Village Counselling on 0499988765.  Location:  Woodvale WA .  Medicare rebates apply.