Your health

Worried about him Q

My husband’s mood is really low and I worry he’s depressed. He won’t talk about it to me or his GP. What should I do? Julie, Norfolk

A

For someone to get help they need to be motivated and willing.

Unfortunately, depression and low mood tend to come alongside a desire to withdraw from the world, and from the people close to us.

It is common for people suffering from depression to retreat into a very withdrawn state which prevents them from wanting to discuss they’re feelings. Ultimately, this requires professional help. Antidepressant treatment may be necessary but psychological therapy is also important as people who are depressed tend to have very deep-rooted negative thoughts of themselves. Keep speaking to your partner about engaging in some form of help in a caring, compassionate and validating way.

Be open to the idea that it may take several attempts before they are ready to try.

Alternatives to medication Q

I’ve ’ve been on antidepressants for some time now and although I think they help, I don’t want to stay on them forever. What are the alternatives? Sophia, Leeds

A

The main alternative is psychological therapy.

It is safe to come off antidepressants if you are no longer experiencing symptoms of depression but it is advised that you do so alongside the support of your GP.

You may have to wean off them gradually and it’s important to understand that there may be some sideeffects and possibly a rebound effect which is when the symptoms of depression resurface again temporarily.

This is simply your body adjusting and shouldn’t last long – although it can be helpful to have some support during this time.

If you started antidepressants without the help of therapy, engaging with therapy can help you understand the underlying cause of your depression.

There is a whole range of different approaches to therapy that are helpful for depression, including CBT and Schema Therapy.

Feeling anxious Q

I worry my anxiety is holding me back and often find myself avoiding certain situations because of it. How can I get help? Lucie, Somerset

A

To overcome anxiety, you usually need to begin to face the things you find anxiety-provoking.

There are lots of different techniques which can help. One way might be learning to challenge negative thoughts around things you find scary.

Mindfulness and relaxation techniques can also be helpful in bringing the physiological symptoms of anxiety down.

But one of the most critical parts of overcoming anxiety is the behavioural part.

Anxiety tends to come alongside a lot of avoidance.

The treatment for this involves a degree of exposure that can happen in a very gradual way.

In therapy, we build a hierarchy of anxiety situations and tackle them one by one – from the easiest to the hardest, over a period of time.

The most effective treatments tend to be CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).

If your anxiety is holding you back from engaging in the things you want to do, I would always encourage someone to seek psychological therapy.

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