Have you noticed that you have been feeling low? We all feel this way from time to time, but if you feel like getting through each day is becoming a struggle, there are things you can try, as well as advice and techniques that may help. Below is information on depression and where you can get support.
Depression is a long-lasting low mood disorder. It affects your ability to do everyday things, feel pleasure or take interest in activities you were interested in before.
Depression may need long-term treatment, which may seem discouraging. The good news is that there are many different, evidence-based, effective treatments available.
A condition where you feel persistently depressed in mood and experience long-term loss of pleasure or interest in life, often with other symptoms such as disturbed sleep, feelings of guilt or inadequacy, and suicidal thoughts. This is also known as clinical depression.
You may be able to function in your everyday life. However, you will feel low and may experience symptoms similar to Major Depressive Disorder; but they won’t necessarily reach the same intensity. They will last continuously for a long time and have a negative impact on things such as relationships, school, work and other everyday activities.
You feel low and experience other symptoms of depression that become more apparent and intensify during the winter months. The change in mood often starts when the seasons change, we are experiencing shorter days and getting less exposure to sunlight. There are numerous treatment options for it, including anti-depressants, light therapy, and psychotherapy/talking therapy.
Stay in touch
It’s tempting to withdraw from social situations when you are depressed, but socialising can help to improve our mood and provide us with an outlet for expressing how we feel when we’re feeling down. Find someone or some people you can talk with, whether they’re friends, family, or a local group. If you’re struggling to find anyone, don’t hesitate to contact us at the Space.
Stay active
Studies have shown that exercise is a powerful way to help to lift your mood. Find something that can keep you moving that you enjoy; this could be something like playing football, doing yoga, or going for a walk.
Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness is all about living in the moment. It’s a type of meditation that allows you to focus on being aware of what you’re feeling and sensing in the moment.
Focus on the things you can control
We often worry about things we cannot control; like traffic that’s making us late for work. Instead, focus on what you can control in the moment, like your breathing, concentration, and focus.
Make a routine
When you’re feeling low, you can easily lose any sense of a routine, but this can have a further negative impact on your mental health. Try to create and maintain a routine as much as possible, which includes going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, finding the time to practice mindfulness, exercise and talking with someone.
Mind in Croydon can offer support in lots of different areas, including mental health and wellbeing, employment training and education and housing and finance. The referral pathway is dependent on the service being accessed. Usually, they are done via a healthcare professional or through self-referral.
Hear Us is a mental health service user group, which ensure service users are involved with the planning, delivery and monitoring of mental health services in Croydon. This is to improve the quality of mental health services people can access in Croydon.
Croydon Talking Therapies is a free and confidential service for adults who are registered with a Croydon GP, who would like to improve how they feel and sleep better. You can self-refer by filling in the online referral form or calling the service.
Off The Record are a counselling service for young people, aged 14-25 who live work or study in Croydon. They offer face to face sessions, as well as a texting service and online seminars. There is also a refugee service for people aged 11-25. People who want to access their services should do this through self-referral.
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