Low mood can affect how you feel about yourself, your relationships and the future. You may have less energy, find it harder to concentrate, or lose interest in things that usually matter to you. Sometimes keeping up appearances takes considerable effort.
There may be an identifiable loss, pressure or change in your life. There may also be no single, obvious explanation.
Making sense of depression
“Depression” describes a recognised pattern of difficulties. It can be a useful term for communicating how serious things have become and identifying appropriate care. However, the diagnosis alone does not explain why you feel this way or mean that your future is fixed.
Two people given the same diagnosis may have very different experiences and needs.
Psychological work looks at your particular circumstances, including relationships, health, patterns of thinking, daily activities and ways of responding when things feel difficult.
Finding a way forward
You will not be expected to “just think positively” or pull yourself together. Equally, the work aims to leave room for possibility, even if change feels hard to imagine at present.
A starting point may simply be describing what life has been like and what has become harder. Together, we can consider what might help and identify manageable steps towards things that matter to you.
Contact us to discuss support for low mood or depression.
If low mood is persistent, worsening or significantly affecting daily life, speak with your GP as well. Psychological support can form part of a wider care plan.