Low

Understanding Low Mood

Feeling low is a common experience that many people go through at some point in their lives. It’s a state of mind where you might feel sad, unmotivated, or uninterested in the things you used to enjoy.

Experiencing low mood occasionally is part of being human, but if you feel like your low mood is persistent and getting out of hand to the point where you are struggling to cope with daily life, it’s important to seek professional help.

If you frequently wonder “why do I feel so low?”, have stopped doing things you enjoy or distanced yourself from loved ones, you may be concerned about your mental health. Typically, a low mood should lift after a few days, but if your mood doesn’t improve and you still feel down after two weeks, it could be a sign of depression.

Experiencing low mood can leave you feeling anxious, lonely or overwhelmed, especially if you are no longer doing things you once enjoyed or tasks you completed on a regular basis.

Some physical illnesses can cause low mood and depression, so it is important to seek professional medical support to rule out possible causes or side effects from any medication you may be taking.

At Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies, we understand that experiencing low mood can have a detrimental impact on your life. We are here to help you and support you as you get better, offering a range of talking therapies services, including Counselling for Depression.

Low mood can sometimes lead to thoughts that life is not worth living, or you may be thinking about self-harming. It is important to tell someone if you or someone you know feels this way.

You can get urgent help now if you are having a mental health crisis.

What are the causes of feeling low?

There are several causes of low mood. Some of these are not necessarily a cause for concern and are actually very normal, but others may suggest you are experiencing mental health problems, like depression.

Low mood can be caused by:

• Stress from work or school
• Relationship problems
• Financial difficulties
• A major life change, like loss

There are other causes of low mood which may be less common, and you may not be aware that they can impact how you are feeling.

For example, imbalances in brain chemicals, such as serotonin, are linked to depression and your hormones can also lead to low mood. Depression in women may be Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), which is a severe mood disorder affecting menstruating people and is characterised by significant emotional and physical symptoms like irritability, anxiety and depression.

You may also experience low mood because of nutritional deficiencies, a lack of sleep or poor diet.

Sometimes, there may not be an obvious reason for feeling low, but if your feelings of low mood are also contributing to feeling anxious, overwhelmed or stressed, it may be one of several signs of depression or clinical depression.

What are the symptoms of feeling low?

When you are feeling low, you may experience an overwhelming variety of symptoms ranging from sadness and tiredness to low confidence and anxiety. The symptoms of feeling low are different to depression symptoms.

The signs and symptoms of a general low mood can include feeling:

• Sad
• Anxious or panicky
• More tired than usual or struggling to sleep
• Angry or frustrated
• Low on confidence or self-esteem

You can help improve your low mood by implementing lifestyle changes, like eating a healthy and balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting plenty sleep. If there’s something in particular that is bothering you, like a disagreement at work or financial issues, it is important that you seek a resolution as soon as possible.

If your low mood doesn’t improve after a few days, it is understandable that you may begin to feel concerned about your health. Sometimes, feeling low for an extended period of time indicates a mental health condition, like depression.

Symptoms of depression may include:

• Not getting any enjoyment out of life
• Feeling hopeless
• Not being able to concentrate on everyday tasks
• Having suicidal thoughts or thoughts about harming yourself

If you feel like you are withdrawing yourself from social situations, like seeing friends or family, or experiencing a change in appetite, weight or sleep, it is important to get professional help.

A healthcare professional, like your doctor, can diagnose you with depression and suggest the best cause of action. You may be recommended to begin a talking therapy with a qualified therapist who can support you in managing your feelings and provide you with important coping strategies and self-help tips to deal move forward. It is also possible to be prescribed medication to help you deal with depression.

At Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies, we are here for you. We understand that experiencing low mood can have a significant impact on your daily life and it can be frightening to live with these feelings. But you are not alone.

Whether you are feeling low or dealing with symptoms of depression as a result of dealing with PTSD after a traumatic event or coping with cancer, we can provide specialist support for you. We also know that men’s mental health remains a taboo topic, but if you are a man who is struggling with his mental health, don’t be afraid to speak up.

We are here to support everyone in managing their feelings.

What support is available for feeling low?

When you are feeling low, it’s important to remember that it’s okay to ask for help and support from those around you.

However, if your symptoms are impacting your mental health to the point where you are struggling with everyday life and you are constantly asking yourself “why do I feel so low?”, it might be time to consider getting professional support from a trained therapist.

At Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies, we can provide the guidance you need to implement coping strategies to manage daily life, even when you are feeling low. You can access support services from Mindfulness Based Programmes and Healthy Living Healthy Minds to self-help resources and existing webinars.

Or, you can access our talking therapy service to work with a therapist to tackle your mental health issues. We offer a range of services, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Counselling for Depression and Interpersonal Therapy, which focuses on working to understand what is underpinning your current episode of depression. Our Talking Therapies for Couples service offers behavioural couples therapy (BCT) and couples counselling for depression.

Our therapy is held either in person with your therapist or online, depending on your preference.

Once you self-refer to our service, either via our online referral assistant, through GP/professional referrals or by calling us on 0333 188 1060, a member of our friendly team will discuss your symptoms with you and organise the best course of action to best support you.

If you are experiencing distressing thoughts and need immediate mental health support or urgent advice, you can get urgent help now.