Have you noticed a colleague has had a low mood for a long period?
Let’s say longer than a few weeks. It can be a sign of depression.
Sometimes we can feel low, but it normally goes away after a few weeks or so. If you or someone you know has been feeling low for more than a few weeks, it can be a good idea to seek help and talk to someone about it.
Talking to someone could help to offload and get what is worrying you off your chest. It’s true to say, “a problem shared is a problem halved.” It can maybe be a friend, family member, colleague, manager, mental health first-aider, counsellor or your GP, that you choose to talk to.
What can help with low mood?
There are a few things that may help to lessen your low mood. Try to find solutions to issues you may be experiencing. Also, consider that self-care is an important part of wellbeing and includes things such as good sleep, healthy eating and exercise.
Some signs to look out for are:
- Tiredness
- Worry
- Lack of confidence / low self-esteem
- Anxiety
- Sadness
- Short fuse /easily angered or irritated
If the low mood persists it can be a sign of depression.
A few examples of signs that may indicate depression:
Please note, a professional diagnosis is required to establish whether or not someone is suffering from depression.
- Experienced low mood for a good few weeks
- Not being in the mood to do the things you normally would enjoy
- Lack of energy
- Lack in motivation
- Insomnia
- Hypersomnia
- Anxiety
- Loss of appetite or comfort eating
- Poor concentration
- Emotional / tearful
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Losing sex drive
- Suicidal thoughts
Remember, people are different, and we deal with and react to the things life throws at us differently too.
At some point in our lives most likely we have all experienced a time where we have felt low and can’t see that light at the end of the tunnel.
The low mood, feeling down and miserable is often short-lived, while depression is more persistent and won’t go away easily and feeling sad and unhappy is still present.
If you feel you are experiencing a few of these signs, try and seek support and help from someone you trust. It is possible to feel better and improve your wellbeing and mental health, if the correct support and treatment are available and in place.
What could trigger low mood and depression?
It can be many things or there can be no obvious reason for it.
It can be various triggers that can cause depression such as the challenging times life throws at us – trauma, illness, stress, divorce, issues at your workplace, financial worries and strain.
It is important to have awareness and to be able to read the signs of low mood and depression. Remember prevention is better than cure, so take great care of yourself and the people around you.