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A depressed client may (or may not) know why they are depressed. You can help them understand their position better by asking:
- What do you think is making you depressed?
- For how long have you felt depressed?
- Can you remember when you first got this feeling?
The depression may result from external factors, such as bereavement, unemployment, postnatal depression, illness or pain. Or, it can come from the client’s biochemistry.
Symptoms of depression
- Sadness, gloom
- Weeping
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbance
- Weight loss
- Loss of interest in sex
- Loss of interests and hobbies
- Inactivity
- Fatigue
- Marked anxiety
- Impaired concentration
- Suicidal thoughts
- Wish to escape
The more of these symptoms present, the greater the client’s depression. One of the first things a counsellor will do to identify if a client is depressed is to ask them if they are suffering from any of the above.
Seeking refuge
Depressed people may take refuge with ‘false friends’ – cigarettes, alcohol, drugs or food, in the belief that they can help. In fact, alcohol is a depressant, which makes matters worse.
