Depression HSP workshop

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Depression HSP workshop

• Dr Anthony Harris
• Discipline of Psychological Medicine
• University of Sydney
• PEIRS, Sydney West Area Health Service

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who gets depressed?

• Anyone can get depressed. It is a common
  condition, which affects about 1 in every 5
  people at some time or other in their life.
• Depression may also run in families.

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symptoms of depression

• Feeling sad
• Change in sleep
• Change in appetite
• Poor motivation
• Decrease in activity
• Tired all the time
• Difficulty concentrating

• Becoming withdrawn
• Experiencing little pleasure in life
• Feeling hopeless
• Pessimism
• Feeling physically unwell
• Decreased sex drive

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types of depression

• reactive depression
• major depression
• psychotic depression
• chronic depression or dysthymia
• post-natal depression
• organic depression

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severe depression

• Slowed physical activity motor retardation
• Delusional thoughts or hallucinations
• Grossly slowed thinking
• Suicidal thinking or suicide attempts

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causes of depression

• Heredity
• Biochemical imbalance
• Stress
• Physical stressors eg illness
• Psychological/emotional stressors
• Personality
• Learnt response

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Losses

• Depression can be a result of loss
• When person becomes ill what are the losses?
• friends / relationships
• work and career
• study
• recreation and hobbies
• How much will be recovered?
• How does the person define themselves?

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what happens if depression is not treated?

• People continue to suffer
• Relationships suffer
• Work suffers
• Substance abuse is common
• Suicidal thoughts and actions

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substance abuse

• alcohol and nicotine
• illicit substances
• important factor in
• initiation of mental illness
• Undermining continued function
• worsens compliance, undermines support
• poor physical health
• increase rate of violence, relationship problems
  and suicide

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psychotherapy / counselling

• Develop a trusting relationship
• Consistency
• Recovery takes time
• Work with the individual (or family)
• Restoring self-esteem
• Battling against the stigma
• Conveying hope

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commonly used methods

• Problem solving
• Family counseling / therapy / psycho-education.
• Individual Psychotherapy can include-
• Supportive psychotherapy
• Cognitive Behavioural therapy
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

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antidepressants
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things that help recovery

• Somebody to talk to.
• Good information sources.
• Good physical health.
• Ability to manage stress.
• Sense of hope.

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hints for those in the middle of chronic illness
to help them cope

• NEVER BECOME a moth around the flame of
  self-blame it can destroy your chance of coping.

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• SEEK professional helpers who are EFFECTIVE.
  Identify them by their compassionate natures,
  informative style, eagerness to have you as their
  ALLY, and ability to ensure you receive
  comprehensive education in understanding and
  coping with chronic illness.

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• TAKE HEED that unlimited unconditional
  self-sacrifice is fatal to effective caring and
  coping.
• BE AWARE that spending massive amounts of time
  with the person may not make things better and
  probably will make things worse.

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• CONTACT a self-help group for families.
• MAINTAIN AND ESTABLISH friendships, activities
  and hobbies, particularly those that take you
  outside the home.

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• SET YOUR SIGHTS on appropriate independence for
  yourself.
• DONT BE SURPRISED to discover that in the end,
  it is the ability to change, to look at things
  differently, that distinguishes those who will
  cope, from those who will not.

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• GET TO KNOW the origins of the pressures, the
  ever-increasing pressures, to which we, the
  relatives, are subject.
• PAY GREAT ATTENTION to the needs of the other
  members of the family.

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• LEARN as much as possible, as soon as possible,
  about the illness its cause, its course, its
  outcome.
• ACCEPT that with any complex illness, the
  promptings of our natural instincts are often an
  unreliable guide to coping and caring. We, the
  relatives, DO need training.

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• REALISE that chronic illness and disability is
  not rare. It may seem to be, but thats because
  its not talked about. Many in our community will
  face chronic illness in their immediate family.

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• TAKE very great CARE of yourself.

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Further reading

• Useful books
• Beating the Blues - Tanner and Ball
• Useful websites
• www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
• www.beyondblue.org.au
• www.moodgym.anu.edu.au

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• Depression
• self-disparaging
• dispirited, gloomy, blue
• convinced that life has no meaning or value
• pessimistic about the future
• unable to experience enjoyment or satisfaction
• unable to become interested or involved
• slow, lacking in initiative

• Anxiety
• apprehensive, panicky
• trembly, shaky
• aware of dryness of the mouth, breathing
  difficulties, pounding of the heart, sweatiness
  of the palms
• worried about performance and possible loss of
  control
• Stress
• over-aroused, tense
• unable to relax
• touchy, easily upset
• irritable
• easily startled
• nervy, jumpy, fidgety
• intolerant of interruption or delay