Responding to Feelings of Depression
Responding to feelings of depression
Depression can manifest in one or more of the following ways:
Anger
Hopelessness
Insomnia/lack of sleep
Irritable
Lack of focus
Mental overdrive
Mood swings
Overeating/weight gain
Reduced interest in activities that bring joy
Social withdrawal
Tiredness /lack of energy
We all experience low mood and feeling sad at different times in our lives. Depression is usually when feelings of sadness and negative thoughts persist over a period of time and leave us feeling down, unmotivated and uninterested in things around us. Recognising symptoms early allows you to respond more quickly to depression.
Parents, coaches and teammates are often the first people to recognise these symptoms in an athlete. Recognition of signs of depression and anxiety by these individuals can lead to earlier evaluation and treatment.