Are you, or a loved one, experiencing depressed moods?
Here’s what you need to know

No one has to be a slave to depressed moods. Psychology has taught us many new innovating ways to manage and even control negative emotions so they don’t drain us of essential energy. The first thing to do is to recognize how depression manifests with its signs and symptoms.

Depression can affect anyone and there are many reasons a person may become depressed. Genetics plays a role, as well as a person’s life circumstance. The way our mind thinks, in positive or negative ways, also has an immense role in our emotional states.

1. Depressed moods can vary from person to person

Sadness, apathy and anger can be signs of depression

During depression some people experience symptoms such as:

• sadness, sometimes for no apparent reason
• lowered self-confidence
• lack of motivation to get things done

However, others describe having:

• a general numbing of the senses
• feeling as though they are going through the motions of living without being fully present

While others describe difficulty managing:

• intense moments of rage
• ongoing irritability or feeling on edge

2. Other ways depression manifests itself

Decreased performance can be a sign something is wrong

Physical symptoms, such as:

• fatigue, low energy levels
• getting sicker, more than usual
• sleeping too little or too much
• increases or decreases in weight and appetite
• loss of concentration levels

Emotional or behavioural symptoms:

• feeling stuck, hopeless or helpless
• decrease in performance
• experiencing exaggerated levels of guilt or shame – isolating from friends or family
• thoughts that life is not worth living

3. How to improve your mood

 Simple methods can improve depressive symptoms