Depression
It’s normal to feel sad or stressed sometimes, especially if you have something in your life that worries you a lot.
For some people, the sad feelings take over so much that they can’t get on with their everyday lives and everything feels hopeless.
They can feel like hurting themselves. They can feel tired all of the time or have trouble sleeping. Or they might find little things cause lots of worry. These are all signs of depression.
Depression can be something that is with a person all of the time or that comes and goes in “cycles”. Doctors can give people medicines that help. Many people find it helps to talk to a counsellor or a therapist. If you look after someone, the stress and worry can lead to you feeling depressed.
If this happens, it is important to talk to someone.
Kate’s Story"I only found out that my dad had depression when I was 12, but apparently he’s had it since before I was born. Even though I don’t do much in the practical sense of caring, I do worry about him a lot and have had to give my mum a lot of emotional support. When she’s away, I make sure that he takes his medication and I cook for him, since he often forgets to eat. I still love him though, even though it’s not always easy."
