Counselling Directory
0
menumenu
Are you a counsellor? Log in Join us
Find a counsellor
  • Home
  • What's worrying you?
  • Getting help
    • What is counselling?
    • Types of therapy
    • FAQs
    • Find a counsellor or psychotherapist
    • Worried about someone else?
    • Not sure where to start?
    • Self-care
  • Articles
  • Events
  • Facts & Figures
  • News & Stories
    • Recent news
    • Your stories
Log inJoin us
Saved profiles (0)
  • Home>
  • Expert articles>
  • Depression as a mental illness

Depression as a mental illness

31st May, 20150 Comments

Related information: Depression

According to the organisation Mind, the symptoms of depression are described as:

  • continuous low mood or sadness
  • feeling hopeless
  • low self-esteem
  • feeling tearful
  • feeling irritable and intolerant of others
  • lacking motivation and interests
  • difficulty making decisions
  • anxiety worries
  • having suicidal thoughts.

This list would differ from person to person. People who come to therapy with one or more of these symptoms do so with courage and trepidation. The hope is that they can be understood and made to feel better by the therapist. Prescription medication is known to help to suppress the problem but does not tackle the root cause. For some, sleeping pills and anxiety pills simply dampens the problem and are short term solutions. However depression is not so uncommon. It is a problem most people would have experienced at some point in their lives. There is an underlining fear of the unknown. Depression can be brought about due to problems such as failed relationships, bereavement, financial difficulties, a feeling of failure or a feeling of being stuck in life. These problems can be helped with therapy by a qualified and experienced therapist.  Also in couple relationships a partner of a couple may suffer as a result of the partner’s depression.

My experience of working in a psychiatric ward and in private practice is that depression often occurs due to sense of feelings inadequate and lack of ability to change situation, thus a sense of feeling trapped. I find most problems are often not in isolation. Often someone who feels down and depressed may also struggle with making decisions, and may have anxiety and self-esteem issues.

How can therapy help? 

Clients visit counsellors with the hope that they can help resolve difficult situations. A qualified therapist would be able to bring awareness to the client and help the client to feel supported. This would require work around past or current experiences. It is important for the therapist to help the client focus on their strengths, help to increase assertiveness and help clients change their negative patterns to more positive thought patterns, however the client also need to have a wish to want to change. 

References

Crowe, Michael (2004), Couples and mental illness, in Sexual and Relationship Therapy, Vol. 19, No. 3. British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy.

http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/depression/symptoms/#.VWsUG8_BzGc

Related articles from our experts

  • How cognitive behavioural therapy can help depressionHow cognitive behavioural therapy can help depression

    Mandy Kloppers BA(UNISA); Dip Psych(Open);Dip LC(LC Inst);MCS(Acc)

    23rd April, 2018
  • How to be counselled - a beginners guideHow to be counselled - a beginners guide

    Dahlian Kirby

    7th April, 2018
  • I am "Mental Health Issue" - I don't discriminateI am "Mental Health Issue" - I don't discriminate

    Adam Johnson at Mind2Talk

    3rd April, 2018

Counselling Directory is not responsible for the articles published by members. The views expressed are those of the member who wrote the article.

Share on: Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn
Find a counsellor or psychotherapist near you
Select multiple
Advanced search

print this pagePrint this page

Get involved Connect with us, we're social.
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
More information
  • About us
  • Recommend us
  • Legal terms
  • Privacy/Cookies
  • Browse by region
  • Press centre
  • Find a supervisor
  • Links
  • Site map
  • Site help

Contact us

  • Counselling Directory, Building 3
  • Riverside Way, Camberley
  • Surrey, GU15 3YL
  • Membership Services Team:
    0333 325 2500 *
  • Contact us
Copyright © 2018 site by Memiah Limited

* Calls to 03 numbers cost the same as calling an 01 or 02 number and
count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls.

Healthy ideas that change the world

Get our free monthly e-magazine straight to your inbox

Find out more at happiful.com