Managing Symptoms of Depression

Are you finding that you are struggling to cope with any of the following symptoms: 

• Feeling sad, downhearted, or flat on most days, most of the time

• Experiencing mood changes: agitation/irritability, worthlessness, or excessive guilt

• No enjoyment from activities that would typically bring pleasure

• Changes in appetite- eating more or less than you would normally

• Finding it hard to sleep or waking earlier than your regular wake time

• Loss of motivation, concentration difficulties, falling behind at work or school/uni

• Feeling excessively tired all the time

• Withdrawal from social activities and those close to you, e.g., family and friends

It is common to experience some of these signs or symptoms at different moments in life. Still, if these feelings of sadness and hopelessness persist for more extended periods (at least 2 weeks), it may be clinical depression. Without support, dealing with these difficult feelings can be incredibly overwhelming and lead to burnout and emotional exhaustion.

Depression, a common mental health condition, affects 1 in 7 Australians aged 16 – 85 years¹. It comes in different shapes and forms and won’t look the same for everyone ranging from mild to moderate to severe with brief periods or persistent chronic depressive periods. It may be caused by genetics, the brain’s biology, coping styles, or stressful life events.

Getting help early to manage these difficult symptoms is the most effective way to deal with the challenges that depression brings to a person’s life, especially their day-to-day functioning, such as managing work/study, relationships with family and friends, and overall emotional and physical wellbeing.

¹ Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2007). National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007. Canberra: Author