Everyone gets down and feels depressed at some point in his/her life.

Sometimes we hear people casually say, “I’m depressed,” when they have had a bad day at work or a fight with their partner or friends. Typically, these kinds of feelings pass or lessen within a short period of time. In cases such as these, we are not really ‘depressed,’ but we experience normal and temporary feelings of sadness, frustration, or stress.

These normal feelings are different than the more extreme and pervasive feelings associated with clinical depression. However, if depressive symptoms persist for a period of two weeks or more, or they are particularly distressing, then it is probably time to seek professional help.

The most important message in this series of articles is that you are not alone, and that you CAN get help. There is a plethora of different services out there aimed specifically at people just like you. Your feelings are not unique, they may be unique to your situation, but they are part of a condition which can be treated successfully.

Symptoms

Some or all of the symptoms listed may apply to you:

Physical effects

• Tiredness and loss of energy

• Feelings of overwhelming sadness. They may be compounded by feeling guilty, worthless or hopeless. Feeling anxious, tense, irrationally worried and irritable.

• Sleeping problems – difficulties in getting off to sleep or waking up much earlier than usual

• Loss of appetite

• Loss of sex drive and/or sexual problems

• Physical aches and pains.

Psychological effects

• Thinking about suicide and death

• Persistent sadness or variations in mood such as feeling really down in the mornings and better as the day progresses or visa versa

• Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness

• Undue feelings of guilt or worthlessness

• Self-harm

• Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem

• Difficulty concentrating

• Irritability, anger or resentment.

Social effects

• Not being able to enjoy things that are usually pleasurable or interesting

• Avoiding other people, sometimes even your close friends

• Finding it hard to function at home/work/college/school

• Lack of interest in activities and events.

What do I do now?

Dr Michael Smith, consultant psychiatric with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has set up a website called www.doingwell.org.uk which gives a straightforward way in which to measure whether what you are feeling is a sign of depression.

The PHQ (Personal Health Questionnaire) is an easy to fill in, multiple choice, form which measures your emotions over the past two weeks. It will give a score at the end of the ten questions which will indicate whether what you are feeling is likely to be depression and what your next step should be.

If you score over 15, then there is a strong recommendation that you contact your doctor. Print out the form and take it along to your GP. Doctors and health care professionals will recognise the PHQ score and will be better informed as to the best course of action for your condition.

Dr Smith says: “GPs are very well informed on how to deal with depression these days, the score will give you both a starting point from which to begin. It is a simple way to turn feelings into a number that is recognisable across the different health care platforms.

“Doctors now have to follow a high standard of care procedure in these situations. You should be offered a holistic assessment, which covers being given advice; be allowed to talk about the reasons for your feellings; should receive general health information, eg stay away from alcohol, take some exercise; be advised to talk to someone whether family or a professional service, and you should be referred on, if that is a suitable course of action.

“Taking antidepressants is not the only way to tackle depression these days, although, it is a viable option. There are now psychological therapies available, talking therapies, complementary therapies. The Scottish Government has thought carefully about mental health issues and has installed many excellent services that are easily accessible.”

I don’t want to go to my doctor – who else can help me?

If you feel you need immediate help, then talking is the most important option open to you. Talking to someone, whether they are friends, family or a sympathetic professional at the end of phone, can, and generally does, help most sufferers.

See page 43 for phonelines available.

Next week: the range of treatments available, the reasons behind depression and some farmers’ stories describing their experiences living with depression.

What you can do if your friend is suffering, and you want to help: http://www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk/lifestyle/lifestyle-features/depression-what-friends-can-do-1.1015926