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North London Stress Management Centre
Call: 020 8444 4871 or email:
info@londonstressmanagement.com
Even before the Coronavirus pandemic, depression was said to be experienced by 1 in 10 people in the United Kingdom. Here is the good news: you are not condemned to suffer depression for the rest of your life. Anyone who chooses to research the condition, either via Google, general reading or by consulting their GP are for the most part told that they may be suffering from what is described as chronic depression, a term that does not relate to the intensity of the condition but rather its duration, which, if we are to believe the "experts" means that you are condemned to suffer depression for the rest of your life. We are here to assure you that in many instances, this is at best an incorrect diagnosis and at worst, hopelessly misleading.
The shocking cloud that decends on us. The blanket that smothers us. The stifling feeling taking hold of us.
We undertand depression only too well. We have been there ourselves.
But first, let us backtrack just a little. If you are experiencing at least three or more of the following symptoms, you may well be suffering from a form of depression:
You have ongoing feelings of hopelessness, despondency and lack of self-belief
You are constantly irritated and subject to unpredictable mood swings
You have lost interest in yourself and others.
You have no desire to mix or socialise with people, yet you hate your own company and are frightened of being alone
You find it difficult, maybe even impossible, to concentrate
You tend to burst into tears for no identifiable reason
You feel constantly tired and have little or no energy
You have thoughts of death and suicide
You have disturbed eating habits, leading to significant weight loss or gain
You are suffering from anxiety, fear and panic
You have lost your sex drive (libido)
You suffer from unexplained aches and pains
You find it difficult to fall asleep, and your sleep patterns are irregular
Depression does not just fit one category. In fact there are many types of depression including:
Mild: you find it difficult to concentrate and tend not to enjoy as many things as you used to.
Moderate: The symptoms as described above are having a significant impact on your daily life.
Major: Most or all of the symptoms as outlined above.
Bipolar: drastic mood swings ranging from excitement and mania to despair and lethargy (also called manic depression)
Dysthymia: Your mood is regularly low, though the symptoms are less severe than other forms of depression. Postnatal: Affecting 1:10 mothers, usually manifesting in panic attacks, fear of death and acute insomnia
Seasonal Affective Disorder: a type of depression influenced by seasonal change Hypnosis and psychotherapy online
Most GPs, generally clueless when it comes to psychological ailments, tend not to deal with the intricacies of depression and join the psychiatric community in readily prescribing medications such as Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox etc which all act on the Serotonin chemical in the brain. The multi-billion pound pharmaceutical industry actively encourages the promotion by the medical profession of these drugs that lead to long-term, even life-time dependency. These and other medications can seem effective at first, but may have devastating results over a period of time, inducing in the sufferer suicidal thoughts and behaviours, as well as increasing the likelihood of agitation, anxiety, panic and hostility, tremors, weight loss or gain, fatigue, insomnia, nausea, migraines, diarrhoea and constipation - all as a result of an initial consultation that revolves around a GP or psychiatrist and a multiple-choice questionnaire!
We cannot leave the subject of medication without giving the following important advice: if you are taking prescription medicines for depression and wish to stop you must NOT under any circumstances do so immediately. Seek advice as to how to gradually withdraw from your specific medication and do so slowly, over a pre-determined period of time. Your life could depend on it.
In the treatment of depression, leaving aside prescribed medication, there are a number of suggested ways to deal with the affliction.
These include:
A change of diet: foods containing Zinc, Iron, Vitamin C, Omega 3 fatty acids, Calcium, Vitamin B-12 Regular exercise.
Relaxation and meditation
Self help and support groups
Staying away from self-medicating, drugs, alcohol and tobacco
Adopting a positive mental attitude
Keeping a journal
We believe, however, that nothing is as effective as consulting a trained non-judgemental, sympathetic professional, specialising in depression who can help you to take back your life. Our therapists, utilising a combination of various techniques tailored to the individual needs of each client, offer insight, suggestion, persuasion, reassurance, and instruction to enable you to see yourself and your problems more realistically, in the process empowering you to cope effectively with them. Our approach is designed to encourage communication of conflicts and insight into problems, with the ultimate aim of bringing relief of symptoms, changes in behaviour, improved social and vocational functioning, and personality growth. We know you will find it a life-changing, fascinating and truly eventful experience.
