Depression

Do you live with or care for someone who is depressed? Are you depressed yourself?
If so, Caroline would like to help you.

“Crippling depression and chronic anxiety are the biggest causes of misery in Britain today. They are the great submerged problem, which shame keeps out of sight. But if you mention them, you soon discover how many families are affected. According to the respected Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, one in six of us would be diagnosed as having depression or chronic anxiety disorder, which means that one family in three is affected.” '''"Professor Lord Richard Layard* The Depression Report - A New Deal for Depression and Anxiety Disorders''

For many people, living with depression is a fact of life. It is not a new condition – it has been around for thousands of years, as have various theories about why it occurs and how to deal with it. We now have masses of research and scientific evidence about it’s different forms and variants, such as Clinical Depression, Bipolar Disorder (manic depression), Post Natal Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder, and also about associated conditions such as Anxiety. Much of this is readily available on the internet.
 
If you are depressed, some of these symptoms may be familiar to you:

If you are experiencing some of the above, your doctor will be able to check out that there are no other reasons for your symptoms, such as another illness or infection, or as a result of some medication you are taking.

It may be that you live with, or care for someone who is depressed. This can be incredibly stressful. You may experience a sense of loss and bewilderment. You may feel angry and resentful, and hurt. Your life may not have changed in other respects, but your relationship with the depressed person will be different – and that feels scary. So whilst coming to terms with the emotional roller-coaster that you find yourself on, you have to cope with the unhelpful behaviour and demands of the depressed person, as well as dealing with your own often busy life. You need to look after yourself, or you may become depressed too. You can hear Caroline talking with others about living with a partner who is depressed on Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, on the media page of this website.

You might also find Caroline's book helpful: 'Living with the Black Dog – how to cope when your partner is depressed' pub: White Ladder Press, 2007.

There should be no shame and no stigma around those whose lives are touched by depression. Support is available, for those who are depressed, and to a certain extent, for those who care for them. So do take strength from the fact that you are not alone.

Caroline can help you in one of the following ways:

Hypnotherapy
Advanced Structured Hypnotherapy can relieve and resolve mental and emotional blocks which may be preventing you from living your life as you want. 

Life coaching and support
* Help and support to enable you to feel good about yourself
* Tips and strategies to help you to cope if you feel overwhelmed
* Support, encouragement and advice about how to make the changes you want in your life.

Telephone support
Speak to Caroline direct for advice and support.

Share your experiences
Share your experiences of depression, and of living with someone who is depressed, and read about the experiences of others. If you would like to share your experiences, click here .

Downloadable materials
Caroline has produced a range of helpful written and audio materials for you to download

''Richard Layard heads the Wellbeing Research Programme at the Centre forEconomic Performance, London School of Economics and Political Science( http://cep.lse.ac.uk ) The Depression Report was published online in June 2006 by the Centre for Economic Performance.  It can be downloaded from: The Depression Report