Treatment for IBS
An Evidence-Based Approach
What is Depression?
Depression is an often overused term in modern society used to describe feeling a little low. Depression is more than just feeling unhappy or fed up, it is a state of persistent sadness for weeks, months, or even years.
Symptoms of Depression
Depression ranges in severity from mild to major depressive disorder. The general feelings of someone experiencing depression are those of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities that we once deemed enjoyable.
Additional psychological symptoms of depression include: low self-esteem; the feeling of tearfulness; the feeling of being guilty / guilt-ridden; intolerance of others and irritability; lack of motivation; difficulty with decision making; lack of life enjoyment; anxiety and worry; suicidal thoughts / suicidal ideation; thoughts of self-harming.
There can also be physical symptoms of depression, including: slowed movement and speech; change in appetite; constipation; unexplained aches and pains; lack of energy; loss of libido (sex drive); changes in the menstrual cycle; disturbed sleep patterns.
Depression can also impact one's social life, can impact performance in the workplace, and result in challenges at home and with family.
Additional psychological symptoms of depression include: low self-esteem; the feeling of tearfulness; the feeling of being guilty / guilt-ridden; intolerance of others and irritability; lack of motivation; difficulty with decision making; lack of life enjoyment; anxiety and worry; suicidal thoughts / suicidal ideation; thoughts of self-harming.
There can also be physical symptoms of depression, including: slowed movement and speech; change in appetite; constipation; unexplained aches and pains; lack of energy; loss of libido (sex drive); changes in the menstrual cycle; disturbed sleep patterns.
Depression can also impact one's social life, can impact performance in the workplace, and result in challenges at home and with family.
Causes of Depression
There is no one cause of depression and people can develop depressive symptoms for a number of reasons. The common causative events include loss of a family member, divorce, illness, redundancy, financial worries, and job stresses, to name just a few. Depression can even be caused by a combination of different stressors. It is said that people go into a 'downward spiral' due to a reaction to an upsetting event. Sometimes people can adopt maladaptive coping strategies, such as self-isolation, avoidance of others and social events, the use of alcohol to "drown the sorrows", increasing the risk of feeling low and developing depressive symptoms.
People with long-term health conditions are at a greater risk of developing depression, as are those who develop life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.
Other causes of depression include the hormonal changes following pregnancy. This is called postnatal, or postpartum, depression. This can be a scary experience for a new mother due to the irrational thoughts of hurting their new baby.
Some also experience seasonal affective disorder, SAD, which is thought to be affected by the changing levels of UV light. This is often simply treated using a daylight bulb or SAD lamp. The daylight bulbs from amazon are much cheaper than a SAD lamp and deliver the same temperature light required to reduce the effects of SAD.
Substance use, drugs and/ or alcohol, are often also triggers for depression. Alcohol is a depressant and using this to 'drown the sorrows' actually exacerbates the situation rather than relieving it.
People with long-term health conditions are at a greater risk of developing depression, as are those who develop life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.
Other causes of depression include the hormonal changes following pregnancy. This is called postnatal, or postpartum, depression. This can be a scary experience for a new mother due to the irrational thoughts of hurting their new baby.
Some also experience seasonal affective disorder, SAD, which is thought to be affected by the changing levels of UV light. This is often simply treated using a daylight bulb or SAD lamp. The daylight bulbs from amazon are much cheaper than a SAD lamp and deliver the same temperature light required to reduce the effects of SAD.
Substance use, drugs and/ or alcohol, are often also triggers for depression. Alcohol is a depressant and using this to 'drown the sorrows' actually exacerbates the situation rather than relieving it.
How I Treat Depression
I use a scientifically evidence-based approach known as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is a relatively new form of psychotherapeutic intervention and is known as a third-wave therapy of CBT. In many ways it can be more effective than CBT as it does not aim to increase experiential avoidance.
Typical Outcome
The expected outcome of all ACT-based treatments is that you can put aside your worries, concerns, anxieties, and live a full values-congruent life with greater levels of vitality.
FAQ
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am happy to discuss treatment options with you.
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18 - 20 Smith Street
St Peter Port Guernsey |