This is a word that terrifies many people. They seem to think that it automatically means that they are “mentally ill”, that they must have medication, that people will think that they are a suicide risk, that if their boss finds out, then they will lose their job. That’s enough to terrify anyone.

However, I don’t see it like that at all. Depression manifests itself in many different ways and is on a continuum, from feeling mildly down in the dumps for a day or so, right through to really feeling suicidal over a long period of time, and so, ways of dealing with it are also on a continuum, from ordinary self help measures right down to hospitalisation if it is needed. Ignoring it does not make it go away. If you get in and deal with it in the early stages, it is much easier to recover, and you stay in control of your own life.

Being sad is different from being depressed. We generally know why we are sad, but don’t always understand why we are depressed. Depression shows itself in many ways – poor sleep patterns, changes in appetite, being grumpy and irritable, low energy and motivation, having no sense of optimism for the future, easily upset and tearful. It is not necessary to have all these symptoms to be depressed.

There are many factors that contribute towards someone being depressed. In my experience, it is mostly about how we have learned to respond to adverse life situations and events. People who bottle things up, who don’t express their disappointments or dissatisfactions in a way that changes the situation are more prone to depression. There is some evidence that some people have a genetic predisposition to depression if there is a family history of it. This is no different from having a family history of heart problems, or being sporty , or being good at maths. If that is your family history, then learn (early!) how to manage it well so that you still have a good life.

Self help measures – there are lots of them. What is it that is making you unhappy? Is there anything you can do to change that situation? Sometimes there isn’t. In that case, how can you make the other areas of your like as satisfying as possible? However, taking action, any action, will generally make you feel better. Sometimes, making an appointment to talk to someone will make you feel better even before you go to the appointment! Exercise helps. It relieves the stress and also releases endorphins into your system which will help raise your mood level. Exercise that gets you hot and puffing is great. Exercise that has some sort of aggressive component is also very good – it doesn’t have to be a martial art, (although they are wonderful,) but even a bucket of golf balls down the driving range, or a game of tennis or squash can relieve the stress and mood.

Medication needs to be prescribed by a doctor. However, it is not a magic solution and should not be used to help you put up with an intolerable situation. It will help raise your mood level so that it becomes easier for you to address the problem areas in your life. Antidepressants usually take a week or so to begin to take effect and are usually taken for somewhere between 6 and 18 months (while you address your problems). You need to be feeling back on top of things for at least a month before talking to your doctor about coming off them.Most importantly, remember – a diagnosis of depression is not a life sentence.