Depression and anxiety can, at times, be debilitating and sometimes life-threatening. If you are struggling with depression or anxiety, or think that you might be, it is always critical that you book an appointment with your GP as soon as possible to discuss it in more detail. Your GP will be able to ask you some key questions, may ask you also to complete a form, and will be able to give a clear sense of what is going on and what help you might want to consider.
While your GP might recommend anti-depressants (depending on your circumstances), there are also several other things they might suggest instead of, or in addition to, medication. These might include counselling, psychotherapy, mindfulness, group work, bibliotherapy (self-help books), online courses, and so on.
While the strong recommendation is that you always seek the help and advice of a professional, there are also some things that you might be able to do for yourself that can make a big difference to how you feel.
We can helpfully think about change in terms of stages. Norcross et al (2011) talk about five key stages of change:
The information in this section will help you think about the types of changes you might need or want to make, and help consider the foundations you will need in place (contemplation and preparation) to do so.
Source of Information
Norcross, J.C., Krebs, P.M., & Prochaska, J.O. (2011). Stages of change. In J.C. Norcross (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford.
