At any time in our lives, we may feel blue, or a little sad. This is totally normal and nothing to worry about. Occasionally however, certain emotions seem to get a grip of us, and before we know it we have become depressed and our feelings of hopelessness and despair have taken hold of us and won’t let go. Once we find ourselves at that stage, it can be a long and complicated road to recovery, full of ups and downs, so as far as possible it is important to try to avoid depression in the first place.
People with depression find life tough and difficult to enjoy. They feel a huge disconnect with the world. On one level they can see that there is hope and beauty all around, but on the other, they just can’t stop feeling down. You can avoid this by noting the signs to look out for if there is a chance you could be sliding into depression, and act before it is too late.
1. Depression is different for every individual, so there is no chance that you will have all of these signs and symptoms. But you will probably find that your emotions will be particularly unstable and changeable. Do you recognise any of these, for example?
2. Do you struggle with everyday life? The things that you generally love to do don’t seem as pleasurable, or you can’t be bothered anymore. This might include hobbies, or social activities, sport or sex. You can’t seem to feel joy anymore.
3. Change in your appetite? With some people who are heading into depression, the appetite disappears and they lose weight. Others tend to comfort eat and put weight on. If you notice a loss or gain, you could be seeing the early stages of depression.
4. You may start to try and escape life. Playing computer games for hours and hours, or drinking more, taking drugs, watching TV endlessly: these are all classic escapism strategies that can indicate depression.
5. Trouble with your sleep patterns is a classic sign of depression. You may find that you suffer with insomnia. This can take the form of struggling to get to sleep, or trouble staying asleep. You may wake up several times in the night, or suffer with night panics.
6. This in turn can lead to a loss of energy. You may feel constantly tired and sluggish, with heavy limbs and head. You’ll have no interest in doing anything because you lack the energy.
7. A lack of sleep will also exacerbate any concentration problems you may be experiencing. If you struggle to stay focused and concentrate on a task in hand, this is a classic sign of depression.
8. Your tolerance levels may be lower than they normally are. You may find yourself in a bad mood more often, shouting or snapping more than usual. If everything and everyone is getting on your nerves, this can be a sign of depression.
9. You don’t particularly like yourself. You may not be able to put your finger on why, but all of a sudden you are experiencing feelings of self-loathing, worthlessness or guilt. You criticize yourself and judge yourself harshly.
10. You may have unexplained physical symptoms such as aches and pains, headaches, stomach aches etc.
If any of these signs and symptoms fit the bill for you, it is important that you discuss your issues with a professional and get the help you need, before things become worse.
Created by Tom Vermeersch (bio)
Tom Vermeersch is a certified Psychologist and Bach flower expert with more than 30 years of experience.
Dealing with British Summer Time
Some people are overly sensitive to the time change and it can take days, if not weeks, for them to feel right again, while others barely even notice.
You see the word "toxic" everywhere these days, but what does it really mean? You've almost certainly come across someone who fits the description. Dealing with difficult personalities can be challenging and emotionally exhausting, to say the least.
Live Forever: the Habits of People Who Live a Long, Healthy Life
Legends of immortality have been told and retold throughout history. From ancient Greek myths to modern movies and novels, the dream of eternal youth has been passed down from generation to generation.
What are your aims in life? Do you plan to be rich, to be a top footballer, to be a good parent, or to become Prime Minister? However efficiently you plan your life, sooner or later you are going to come up against obstacles to achieving your goals.
What can you do if your kid doesn't want to go back to school?
What can you do if your kid doesn't want to go back to school? Here are our hints and tips to help if your child is expressing a refusal to go to school.
What makes it so hard to go back to work?
Millions of people furloughed for months are now being recalled to work. Others, who have been working from home throughout the lockdown, are returning to the office. And some jobs have simply disappeared: many people are facing redundancy and will soon have to cope with job hunting. Going back to work after an unprecedented length of time at home is quite a challenge.
5 tips to survive autumn healthily
We simply can’t avoid noticing the changes all around us. Autumn is here... Autumn is also called a transitional season. Slowly and steadily, it prepares us for the transition...
Did you get stuck in the past?
Do you find yourself often thinking about your past? Do you wish you could turn back the clock to days gone by or things as they were before covid disrupted the world?
How to stop everything going wrong
Do you always feel that everything’s always going wrong? Find out how to stop this cycle of bad thoughts in its tracks. When you think positively, things will start to appear positive and you will eventually feel more positive and optimistic.
Do you suffer from a disorder known as "musturbation"? This term was first coined in the 1950s by psychotherapist Albert Ellis and described the way a negative inner voice rules our minds and bludgeons us with words such as "must", "should", and "ought".
At any time in our lives, we may feel blue, or a little sad. This is totally normal and nothing to worry about. Occasionally however, certain emotions seem to get a grip of us, and before we know it we have become depressed and our feelings of hopelessness and despair have taken hold of us and won’t let go. Once we find ourselves at that stage, it can be a long and complicated road to recovery, full of ups and downs, so as far as possible it is important to try to avoid depression in the first place.
People with depression find life tough and difficult to enjoy. They feel a huge disconnect with the world. On one level they can see that there is hope and beauty all around, but on the other, they just can’t stop feeling down. You can avoid this by noting the signs to look out for if there is a chance you could be sliding into depression, and act before it is too late.
1. Depression is different for every individual, so there is no chance that you will have all of these signs and symptoms. But you will probably find that your emotions will be particularly unstable and changeable. Do you recognise any of these, for example?
2. Do you struggle with everyday life? The things that you generally love to do don’t seem as pleasurable, or you can’t be bothered anymore. This might include hobbies, or social activities, sport or sex. You can’t seem to feel joy anymore.
3. Change in your appetite? With some people who are heading into depression, the appetite disappears and they lose weight. Others tend to comfort eat and put weight on. If you notice a loss or gain, you could be seeing the early stages of depression.
4. You may start to try and escape life. Playing computer games for hours and hours, or drinking more, taking drugs, watching TV endlessly: these are all classic escapism strategies that can indicate depression.
5. Trouble with your sleep patterns is a classic sign of depression. You may find that you suffer with insomnia. This can take the form of struggling to get to sleep, or trouble staying asleep. You may wake up several times in the night, or suffer with night panics.
6. This in turn can lead to a loss of energy. You may feel constantly tired and sluggish, with heavy limbs and head. You’ll have no interest in doing anything because you lack the energy.
7. A lack of sleep will also exacerbate any concentration problems you may be experiencing. If you struggle to stay focused and concentrate on a task in hand, this is a classic sign of depression.
8. Your tolerance levels may be lower than they normally are. You may find yourself in a bad mood more often, shouting or snapping more than usual. If everything and everyone is getting on your nerves, this can be a sign of depression.
9. You don’t particularly like yourself. You may not be able to put your finger on why, but all of a sudden you are experiencing feelings of self-loathing, worthlessness or guilt. You criticize yourself and judge yourself harshly.
10. You may have unexplained physical symptoms such as aches and pains, headaches, stomach aches etc.
If any of these signs and symptoms fit the bill for you, it is important that you discuss your issues with a professional and get the help you need, before things become worse.
Some people are overly sensitive to the time change and it can take days, if not weeks, for them to feel right again, while others barely even notice.
Read the complete articleYou see the word "toxic" everywhere these days, but what does it really mean? You've almost certainly come across someone who fits the description. Dealing with difficult personalities can be challenging and emotionally exhausting, to say the least.
Legends of immortality have been told and retold throughout history. From ancient Greek myths to modern movies and novels, the dream of eternal youth has been passed down from generation to generation.
Read the complete articleWhat are your aims in life? Do you plan to be rich, to be a top footballer, to be a good parent, or to become Prime Minister? However efficiently you plan your life, sooner or later you are going to come up against obstacles to achieving your goals.
What can you do if your kid doesn't want to go back to school? Here are our hints and tips to help if your child is expressing a refusal to go to school.
Millions of people furloughed for months are now being recalled to work. Others, who have been working from home throughout the lockdown, are returning to the office. And some jobs have simply disappeared: many people are facing redundancy and will soon have to cope with job hunting. Going back to work after an unprecedented length of time at home is quite a challenge.
We simply can’t avoid noticing the changes all around us. Autumn is here... Autumn is also called a transitional season. Slowly and steadily, it prepares us for the transition...
Read the complete articleDo you find yourself often thinking about your past? Do you wish you could turn back the clock to days gone by or things as they were before covid disrupted the world?
Do you always feel that everything’s always going wrong? Find out how to stop this cycle of bad thoughts in its tracks. When you think positively, things will start to appear positive and you will eventually feel more positive and optimistic.
Do you suffer from a disorder known as "musturbation"? This term was first coined in the 1950s by psychotherapist Albert Ellis and described the way a negative inner voice rules our minds and bludgeons us with words such as "must", "should", and "ought".
Bach Flowers are not medicinal but harmless plant extracts which are used to support health.
© 2024 Mariepure - Webdesign Publi4u
Are you unsure which Bach flowers can help you? Contact Tom for free advice.