Conrad Aikin - Reference 1

WHEN TO GET PROFESSIONAL HELP

There are some situations where it is more important to seek professional help.  If any of the following apply to you, then I strongly urge you to make an appointment with a well trained and caring professional. The following is based, with thanks, on the written work of Michael D. Yapko, author of 'Breaking the Patterns of Depression'.

Suicidal Thoughts or Feelings

If you are thinking about death or ending your own life, especially if you are getting to the stage of detailed thoughts about specific ways that you would kill yourself, then this is an immediate concern.  Depression is temporary.  Thinking that it would last forever is simply depressive thinking and nothing more.  Suicide is a permanent solution to this temporary problem.  It is better to get help.

When The Depression Goes On And On

Unhappiness following a traumatic event such as death, relationship break-up or serious accident or illness is normal and probably does not mean you need to get professional help; however, sometimes the depression leaves us stuck for longer than we need to be.  If thinking something like 'I'll never be happy again', then it is time to get some counselling or therapy.

If you have started to do things that cause harm to you such as excessive use of alcohol or other drugs, are not looking after your physical health or are taking more deliberate self harming actions, then this is enough of a concern to warrant making an appointment.

When Important Areas Of Your Life Are Being Seriously Affected

Relationships, work and family life can all be seriously impacted by depression.  If you find that your depressed thinking and actions (or not taking action) have started to damage important relationships, work or anything else of importance to you then its time to make an appointment.

When You Have No-One Else To Compare Your Perceptions With

If, for whatever reason, there is no-one who you can talk over your problems and situation with, then speaking to an objective professional can be invaluable to helping getting you back on track.

If Your Symptoms Have Become Extreme

Whatever symptoms or whatever problems you are experiencing be they difficulty with sleep, not looking after yourself, low energy and little motivation, difficulties concentrating on tasks or just feeling terrible all the time, then counselling or therapy will be very important.  Sometimes the best way to recover from depression is to have biological help in the form of antidepressant medication and appropriate psychological counselling or therapy.

depressioNet has more information on anti-depressive medication

The information on this page was put together by Conrad Aikin, a psychologist registered with depressioNet.