Depression
Low for weeks, and things you used to enjoy feel flat?
Everyone has low days. Depression is different: a heaviness that stays for weeks, takes the colour out of things you used to enjoy, and makes ordinary tasks feel like a lot. It isn’t laziness or a lack of willpower, and it isn’t something you have to push through alone.
What it can feel like
Inside
- Feeling low, empty or numb most of the day
- Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
- Being very hard on yourself, or feeling guilty for no clear reason
- Finding it hard to see things getting better
In your day
- Sleeping much more or much less than usual
- Feeling tired even after rest
- Eating more or less than you normally would
- Pulling away from friends, family or work
Depression, in plain words
Depression affects how you feel, think and get through the day. It can come after something hard, or seem to arrive out of nowhere. It is common and it is not a personal failing. Many people find it lifts with the right support, which can include talking to a counsellor or psychologist, small changes to daily routines, and sometimes medical care from a doctor.
Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose depression. You don’t need a diagnosis to talk to someone.
It may be time to talk to someone if
- You’ve felt low most days for two weeks or more
- It’s getting harder to work, study or look after yourself
- You’ve stopped doing things that used to matter to you
- You have thoughts that life isn’t worth living. If so, please call Tele-MANAS on 14416 or 112 now.
Where to go from here
You don’t have to work through it alone
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If someone you love is low
- Check in regularly, even with a short message
- Listen more than you advise, and don’t tell them to cheer up
- Offer practical help: a meal, a walk, a lift to an appointment
- If they talk about not wanting to live, take it seriously and help them get support now
Questions people ask
A bad phase usually lifts within days. If the low mood has stayed for a couple of weeks or more, and it’s affecting your sleep, energy or daily life, it’s worth talking to someone.