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Emotional Distress / Depression
Signs to look out for:
Do you recognise some of these in yourself, or a friend or family member?
Feeling tearful
Lacking energy
Using alcohol or drugs or prescription drugs to help you cope with your feelings
Being irritable or feeling nervous
Losing touch with family and friends or becoming withdrawn
Loss of interest in appearance
Eating or sleeping more or less usual
Becoming accident prone
Making negative statements such as “I’m a waste of space”
Finding it hard to cope with everyday things
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If so, then help is available. We all go through periods of time when life can seem tough and situations
can seem hard or even unbearable. Within many communities, including ours, there is a stigma attached to the use
of the term 'mental health'.
When you think of the term 'mental health', what is the first image that comes into you head?
In reality, mental health is just as much a part of all of our daily lives as physical health. If you broke a limb,
you would get help to fix it by vistiting a doctor. In the same way, if you are suffering emotionally, you can get help
and appropriate support. Talking to a friend or family member can be very useful; there are also a range of services
available to help you.
These include:
Groups and Community Projects: These offer great opportunities to get out, socialize and take part in old or new hobbies
and interests. Activities could range from gardening to creative writing to dancing!
Talking Therapies (such as Counselling or Psychotherapy): Many people cope with their personal
difficulties by talking to a friend or loved one. Counselling and Psychotherapy works by giving you the time and space
to talk through stressful situations and events with a professional.
Medication: The medication available for various conditions has both improved in its effects
and increased in range over the years. Courses of medication can be short term or long term. Your GP will be able to
inform you of the appropriate options available.
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