Everyone feels unhappy sometimes, but when it’s most of the time, you just can’t pull yourself out of it, or feel like you’re totally alone – that’s when depression is a more serious issue.
Some of the possible symptoms of depression include:
- Total lack of energy.
- A change in your eating habits.
- Feeling weepy and not knowing why.
- Having difficulty sleeping.
- Being excessively irritable.
- Using alcohol or drugs to alleviate stress.
- Feeling out of control.
- Mood swings.
- Regular headaches.
- Worrying about how you look, for example spots or your weight.
- A lack of interest in your usual hobbies or friends.
- Feeling you have no-one to talk to and that no-one understands you.
Lots of things can make you feel depressed, including:
- If someone close to you is ill, or dies.
- Worrying about your sexuality.
- Exam stress.
- Feeling left out and not being part of a group.
- Having a parent or carer who is depressed or worried about other things.
- Worrying about exams or getting disappointing results.
- Being bullied at school or elsewhere.
- If you have been abused or witnessed violence in your home.
- Having trouble with your boyfriend or girlfriend, or a close friend.
The important thing is not to just ignore how you feel and hope it will just go away.
Here’s how you can help yourself:
- Eat proper healthy meals.
- Take regular exercise – something you enjoy.
- Write how you feel in a diary.
- Listen to your favourite music – something upbeat.
- If there’s a hobby you enjoy, keep it up.
- Talk to your friends and family, they’ll want to help you.
- If there’s something particular worrying you, talk to someone you trust so you can decide together what to do next.
- Talk to your doctor, you may need counselling or medication.
- Know that you’re not alone and there are people who can help you just at the end of the telephone – see below for special helplines to talk to people who will listen, understand and help.
Who can help?
If you are looking for a local organisation or counsellor then check out the counselling directory. They hold a database of counsellors across the country.
The following organisations are also all available for you to speak to and are happy to help whatever the issue:
- Childline
www.childline.org.uk
Free Tel: 0800 1111 (24 hours a day, 365 days per year)
Textphone: 0800 400 222 (9.30am to 9.30pm weekdays – 9.30am to 8pm weekends) - Samaritans
www.samaritans.org
Tel: 08457 90 90 90 (24 hours a day, 365 days per year)
Textphone: 08457 90 91 92 - Young Minds
www.youngminds.org.uk
Tel: 0207 336 8445 (9.30am to 5.30pm weekdays) - CALM – Campaign Against Living Miserably
www.thecalmzone.net
Free Tel: 0800 58 58 58 (Daily from 5.00pm to 3.00am)
Youth Start 