Feeling Down
We all feel sad, down or low from time to time. It’s perfectly natural to feel like this especially if stressful things are happening in your life (exams, relationships, problems at home). Sometimes we feel down for what seems like no reason at all, but most of the time these feelings pass and we feel more like ourselves.
However, if you find you’re experiencing any of the following problems or feelings and they won’t go away then they could be signs that your are depressed.
- Feeling: moody and irritable - easily upset, `ratty' or tearful.
- Avoiding friends, family and regular activities, not enjoying things.
- Feeling guilty or bad, being self-critical and self-blaming - hating yourself
- Feeling unhappy, miserable and lonely a lot of the time
- Feeling hopeless and wanting to die
- Can’t concentrate, feel tired, no motivation or energy.
- Changes in your sleep and appetite.
- Physical complaints such as headaches or stomach-aches.
Lots of things can cause depression. It could be because something bad has happened, it can be because you have problems and no-one to share the burden with. It can run in families. Sometimes there may be no obvious cause.
Depression is treatable and there are lots of things that you can do to help yourself. The most important thing is to talk to someone about how you are feeling. A friend, teacher, school nurse, or a helpline. Many people find that taking up exercise helps.
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Getting Help:
For information about services and organisations in Manchester that can help, click here