Depression & Low Mood

When life starts to feel heavy

Everyone experiences periods of low mood. You might feel sad, flat, unmotivated or more withdrawn than usual, particularly during times of stress, loss or change. Often these feelings shift as circumstances change.

Depression tends to be more persistent and can affect many areas of life. Things that once felt enjoyable may no longer feel rewarding. Everyday tasks can require much more effort, and it can become difficult to imagine feeling differently.

Depression doesn't always feel like sadness. It can also feel like emptiness, numbness, exhaustion or disconnection.

You might notice:

• losing interest in things you normally enjoy

• feeling flat, empty or disconnected

• low energy or motivation

• withdrawing from others

• difficulty concentrating

• changes in sleep or appetite

• feeling hopeless or stuck

• becoming increasingly critical of yourself

• feeling like you're simply going through the motions

Sometimes there is more underneath the low mood

Low mood and depression don't always appear out of nowhere.

Sometimes they develop alongside grief, prolonged stress, difficult relationships or painful experiences. There may be anger that hasn't had anywhere to go, needs that have repeatedly been put aside, or beliefs about yourself that have developed over time.

Sometimes a part of us may have simply become exhausted from carrying too much for too long.

Rather than only asking “How do I get rid of this feeling?”, therapy can explore:

What might be underneath it?

Strategies can help but they may not tell us why

Exercise, routine, sleep, connection and meaningful activity can all support mood. Sometimes these changes make a significant difference.

But you can also be doing all the right things and still not feel okay.

Strategies can help with the symptoms, while therapy can create space to understand what may be contributing to them.

How I can help

Together, we can explore what is happening beneath the low mood including difficult emotions, past experiences, relationship patterns, deeply held beliefs or parts of you that have learned to withdraw or shut down.

The aim isn't to force yourself to think positively.

It is to understand what is happening, work through what may be keeping you stuck, and gradually reconnect with yourself and the parts of life that matter to you.

Sometimes feeling nothing is a way of protecting ourselves from feeling too much.