As we come to the end of mental health awareness week, it’s a good time to start thinking about your mental health.

I find the word depression is used so freely these days, without much thought going into what it really means. It’s so easy to say when you get some upsetting news, or things aren't going your way that you are depressed….You’re not…you’re are sad. Being sad is a human emotion, a natural reaction to a situation that had caused us emotional upset. Depression is a mental illness that is caused by changes in the brains chemistry. 

That being said, one of the main symptoms of being depressed is sadness. A sadness that goes on for weeks, months even years. We need to be able to differentiate between the sadness being caused from depression or from a situation that has hurt us emotionally.

Depression effects all aspects of your life - making everything less enjoyable, you might find you are quicken to anger or have no energy or desire to do things that use to bring you joy. 

Someone who has never been depressed or had a mental illness before, might find it hard to understand. Thinking you can just snap out of it. Being depressed is not a decision you have made… you can’t just change your mindset and then be happy again. The best thing you can do is seek advice from a mental health specialist who can help you with the appropriate treatment. 

Depression is curable, it might take time to find the right method of treatment that works best for you. But you can and will get there. Don’t rely on medications alone to treat depression. Adding exercise into the equation will help. Exercising boost serotonin and endorphins which are feel good chemicals in the brain. 

Paying attention to your nutrition is also important. Eating well balanced low GI meals, that won’t cause a quick spike in blood sugar levels. This will help keep you feeling more balanced.