Depression

Adults experience depression (low mood for over two weeks) for many reasons. It can be reactive (in response to an event or change in circumstances) but sometimes there is no clear cause and we conclude that the biochemistry of the brain is disrupted due to genetic susceptibility, or sometimes other risk factors such as physical illness, hormones or lifestyle. Most often it is a combination of the above factors and exploring them all will give rise to your personal treatment programme.

Symptoms include:

1. Low mood- feeling sad, irritable or even numb for more than two weeks at a time
2. Change in behaviour- being more withdrawn, or angry  and irritable
3. Changes in sleep  -sleeping more, or less than usual
4. Changes in appetite- eating more or less
5. Changes in activity level and function- feeling less able to complete tasks, or sometimes feeling very agitated and unable to rest
6. Brain fog – poor concentration and memory.

Treatment may include:

• Understanding the factors underlying the depression including past traumas
• Empathy and validation- depression is mental torture and not your fault.
• Supporting gentle and sustainable behavioural and lifestyle changes
• Medication to facilitate return to function and ability to engage in therapy/behavioural change
• Integration of your belief systems, spiritual support and cultural practices if appropriate.
• Therapy to ‘reprocess’ past traumas, build self esteem and open a new chapter for the future/

‘Treatment resistant’ Depression:

I am consulted by people who have tried medication prior to seeing me. I can usually offer alternative medication choices as well as genetic testing to guide medication choice, and advice regarding novel treatments such as trans-cranial stimulation (i.e. Flow headset).