FEELING DEPRESSED
Text About It is a free and anonymous text support service for moments when you are feeling depressed or sad and need support to get to a calmer place. Text HELLO to 50808 to start a conversation, any time - day or night.
If your life is at imminent risk, please call 999 immediately.
What is Depression?
Depression is persistent feelings of sadness, and may include inactivity, hopelessness, difficulty in concentrating and focus, and changes in appetite. While feeling down only lasts for a short while, depression affects you for at least two weeks or longer.
Signs of Depression
The symptoms of depression vary for each person. Here are some to be aware of.
Feeling sad or down a lot of the time, even when there’s no reason
Feelings of despair that you can’t escape
A lack of feeling or emotion
Feeling exhausted and lacking energy all the time
Continuous and long mood swings, when you change from feeling happy to despairing, sorrowful or angry and irritable
The things that used to give you enjoyment or make you happy leave you feeling numb or uninterested
Feeling that you don't want to talk to family or friends
Difficulty concentrating or a losing interest in your work
Putting on or losing weight
Different sleep patterns. You might not be able to fall asleep or you can’t get up in the morning
Feeling guilty as if you have done something terrible or feeling worthless as a person
Feeling so bad that you think it would be a relief to die or hurt yourself
Coping with Depression
If you are experiencing depression it’s important to speak to someone about what treatment might work best for you. Speaking to your GP can be a good place to start.
Write down your thoughts
Writing down or drawing your thoughts and feelings can sometimes help you to get a clearer picture of what’s causing you to feel a certain way.
Having your feelings written down can also help you to explain to others how you are feeling. It can be especially helpful if you struggle to express what you are going through when speaking to a loved one, getting support from your GP or a counselling service.
Talk to someone
Talking to someone about feeling depressed can be helpful. It can help remind you that you are not alone and they can help you get the support you need from a GP or counselling service.
You may feel as though you don’t want to talk to someone you know or in person right now, and that’s OK. If you would like free, anonymous support, you can text HELLO to 50808 to speak to a volunteer. We are open 24 hours a day.
If you’re considering following through on your thoughts about suicide or if you’ve injured yourself while self-harming and need medical assistance, contact 999 immediately or go to your local A&E department and let them know how you're feeling.