Some people get confused with being unhappy or a bit down with depression, or the sad and sometimes awful feelings we can experience after a loss. But is that depression?

The normal up’s and downs of life we all go through but it is important to be part of life even with its dark times.

Friends and family can help and sometimes refocussing your life is necessary, even talking with a counsellor or therapist for a short time can be beneficial.

But there is the other side of feelings. Depression is a mental illness that needs to be diagnosed and treated like any other illness. Some people feel a deep, sad depression where as others may have no sad feelings at all.

Their illness is expressed perhaps through increased tiredness or finding no meaning in living or increased drinking or drug use or loss of appetite, there are also many other symptoms that don’t look like depression. As well some people may seem very busy and active and are always ready to have a chat and a laugh. But that does not mean they are not depressed. It is our internal world that is depressed.

Treatment these days is mostly straight forward but you need to work with your doctor and mental health professionals to make sure you get the best outcomes. One size does not fit all in mental health and the treatment needs to be tailored to you.

See your doctor even if you only “think” something may not be right with you.