Counselling for Depression

 What does being depressed mean?

The word depressed is a common everyday word. People might say “I’m depressed” when in fact they mean “I’m fed up because I’ve had a row, or failed an exam, or lost my job”, etc. The term depression is very ambiguous and is usually associated with negative connotations although with the rise of celebrities admitting to feeling depressed there is less stigma with mental health issues. Depression is in fact very serious to those suffering from it, especially in its severest form, clinical depression. If you are suffering from depression it is possible that your quality of everyday life becomes challenging and can have a negative impact on family and home life; we have covered this in our blog.

Treatment for Depression

The two major treatments used are antidepressant medicines or psychological (talking) treatments. At Hertford Counselling Service we use different types of therapy, including CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) and talking therapies to help you manage the challenges faced by the way you think and behave.

Depression is misunderstood and for many who suffer from it the stigmatisation of ‘being weak’ can lead to not talking to others or getting treatment. With the more recent support of high profile celebrities sharing their own experiences of depression, there is more understanding around this area.

The following form is used by professionals to assess whether an individual may be suffering from depression and may also be a helpful resource for you: PHQ-9 Assessment Form for Depression

Take a look at this video by the World Health Organisation explaining what it is like to live with depression.