Life is full of ups and downs and many of us will experience significant distress throughout our lives. Challenging experiences and loss can increase risk of depression and can lead to low mood. Low mood and depression differ in that low mood usually lifts within a few days or weeks whereas depression tends to be more long-term. Symptoms of low mood include sadness, worry, exhaustion, anxiety, low self-esteem and anger. Making small changes in your life can improve low mood but if it persists it can be a sign of depression.
Depression is a mental health condition which can affect our emotions, thoughts, behaviour and physical health. Symptoms of depression include: low mood or sadness lasting two weeks or longer, exhaustion or low energy, not enjoying the things you used to enjoy, feeling hopeless, lack of concentration, not getting enough sleep or getting too much sleep, disturbances in appetite (over or under eating), suicidal thoughts or self-harm. A general feeling of being down with no specific reason. Whether you are experiencing depression or low mood, self-help techniques can improve symptoms and life changes can help you feel more in control and increase your ability to cope. Some changes you can make are improving your sleep routine by getting regular, good quality sleep, reducing alcohol intake, and increasing exercise. Below you will find additional apps, reading and resources to help you with these changes and monitoring your mood. See the dropdown menu below for more information.