Depression

Depression is one of society’s most common psychological problems. Approximately one in five people will experience an episode of clinical depression in their lifetime. Depression is more than just a low mood or feeling sad – depression affects people emotionally, physically and cognitively. Depression can be intense and long-lasting, and can impair a person’s everyday functioning and ability to cope with life’s challenges.

Checklist of possible depressive symptoms

  • Feeling sad, down or miserable most of the time
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in most of your usual activities
  • Feeling slowed down, restless, irritable or excessively busy
  • Changes in appetite
  • Sleeping disturbances
  • Decreased energy levels and/or motivation
  • Withdrawal from normal activities
  • Poor concentration
  • Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
  • Thoughts of suicide

If you have experienced two or more of the above symptoms for more than two weeks, you may be experiencing depression.

Potential factors that may contribute to depression

  • Family history of depression
  • Underlying medical conditions
  • Emotional stress (e.g. bereavement, relationship breakdown, significant life changes, job loss
  • Inadequate social support
  • Personality attributes (e.g. limited coping strategies, unhelpful patterns of behaviour)


How Seed Psychology Can Help You
The good news is that depression can be treated, and your life satisfaction greatly improved. Please contact Seed Psychology to make an appointment with one of our highly experienced psychologists.

In most cases, mild to moderate depression can be treated with psychological therapy. In more severe cases, pharmacological treatments provided by your family doctor may be used along with psychological therapy. Psychological therapy can involve learning new coping strategies that will enable you to manage life’s challenges, stressors, and relationship difficulties in a more resilient and effective manner. These new coping strategies will enable you to make new lifestyle changes, regain your self-esteem, and reconnect with personal values and goals