Depression
Depression is a feeling of continued sadness and powerlessness. It’s a medical condition and can affect
everything, from your appetite to your sleep. It can also affect the way you feel about yourself and the world
around you.
In extreme forms, it can lead to a person wanting to harm themselves.
What causes depression?
Big life changes are often linked to depression. The end of a relationship, missing your child or coping with
them alone could all trigger depression.
Am I suffering from depression?
Use this checklist to help you decide whether or not you are suffering from depression. Do you:
- feel worthless, hopeless or guilty?
- constantly feel sad, irritable or anxious?
- have no interest or pleasure in your usual activities and hobbies?
- notice changes in your appetite with significant weight gain or loss?
- notice changes to your sleeping pattern, such as difficulty sleeping, waking early or sleeping too much?
- have difficulty concentrating?
- ever have thoughts of death or suicide?
Isolation?
Isolation is feeling alone and cut off from your family, friends and workmates. You may become isolated after
a separation simply because you find it hard to be around people, or because it’s difficult to see friends you both
had in common.
If you have had to stop work because of separation, or you are living apart from the other parent, you may find
your main link with the outside world has disappeared.
Isolation can also make your emotions seem much worse and it is often linked with depression. You may find
yourself constantly thinking about the end of your relationship without ever accepting that it has ended.
Paul’s story
"Maybe 3 or 4 months after the split, I suddenly just crashed – it was like falling down a deep hole. I got
so desperate that I called the Samaritans. My GP was really helpful and diagnosed depression and
prescribed anti-depressants. They’ve really made a difference. I can believe things are going to get better
and the children and I have a much better time when we’re together, and that’s a real plus."
Paul, father
