What is depression?
This animation explains the signs and symptoms of depression and what you can do to help yourself or a friend who is going through a tough time.
What is depression? by Darren O’Connor was second runner up in ReachOut.com’s Inspire a Generation film competition 2012.
What is depression? transcript:
Depression is a condition most commonly described as a feeling of emptiness and hopelessness like an astronaut lost in space. Depression affects one in four Irish people at some point in their lives. Depression doesn’t discriminate on age, or even gender. It is a condition that can strike anyone, at any time in their lives.
Signs and symptoms
Depression presents itself in the form of a wide range of symptoms. It is a condition that can rain on people’s sense of hope, and can make one’s future appear bleak. An increase of alcohol and drug consumption can be a clear indicator of the condition. While a change in sleeping patterns can also be another symptom. Depression is a condition that can massively effect one’s thought process, including frequent thoughts about death and suicide. It can also affect how we interact with family, friends and colleagues. Low self-esteem is a common factor withe the sufferers of the condition. While also a loss of interest in hobbies, family and social life can be a clear indication of the illness.
Talking is a sign of strength
You don’t have to live with depression, it is a treatable illness. Speak to your local GP or health professional. Getting outdoors and exercise can dramatically improve your mood and well being. While eating a balanced diet can have a similar effect. Don’t bottle up your problems, talking is a sign of strength. For further information, please visit ReachOut.com.
Check out the other entries:
Winner – Kate Dolan’s Subtitles
First runner up – Maureen Walshe’s Depression is a monster
Highly commended – Michelle Duong’s Benjamin
Highly commended – Homejam Productions Pimp my mental health
Highly commended – Jonathan Victory’s That voice inside
Highly commended – Anytime Production’s A new day
Highly commended – James Keating’s Whatstigma
Highly commended – Gavin Fitzgerald’s Find a light
Highly commended – Darragh Mc Cashin’s Making silence visible
Hi Winston
As Fenella was saying to John sometimes our dreams can be more vivid and it can be hard to make sense of them. As long as your dreams are not affecting your day-to-day life or causing you anxiety then we wouldn’t worry too much about them. If the dreams you are having are causing you to worry do talk a trusted friend or a family member,
Take care
Derek
Hi John, I have dreams that are very very similar to yours. I am always dreaming about flying away from people as they're coming at me, or flying high above a crowd of people. It's like I'm trying to get to a safe place. I also dream about being back in old houses all the time, that I've moved back in or come back to see if I've left anything there in the presses/wardrobes.
Hi John,
Sometimes our dreams can be more vivid than other times and it can be hard to make sense of them. We’re not able to interpret dreams here at ReachOut.com, so all we can say is that if the dreams are not affecting your day-to-day life or causing you anxiety then we wouldn’t worry too much about them. There are dream dictionaries available online and in bookshops if you wanted to look up specific parts of your dreams but again, if they’re not making you feel worried or stressed, we wouldn’t spend too much time dwelling on trying to make sense of them.
If the dreams you are having are causing you anxiety or if you are thinking about them and worried about them to a point where it is stopping you from doing your normal, everyday activities then we would suggest talking to someone about it.
A trusted friend or family member would be a good place to start if you wanted to talk to someone. Often, talking with people we trust can give us a fresh perspective and help us to work things out and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
If you want to talk to someone like a counsellor, you could check out www.counsellingdirectory.ie to find counsellors in your area.
We hope this helps John,
Take care,
Fenella
I dream of flying all the time and being back in old jobs and doing everything wrong and having aurgments with everyone. What is it all about?