14/06/2023
Low mood, also known as depression, is a common mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Research indicates that varied factors can cause depression, including responses to stressful life experiences, genetic influences, and emotional conflicts with those around us (amongst many other factors). Depression is often characterised by a persistent feeling of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and loss of interest in activities that were previously pleasurable.
From a psychological perspective, low mood is closely tied to unhelpful thinking patterns, which affect how we view ourselves, others, the world around us, and our future. Unhelpful thinking patterns can take various forms, such as self-blame, self-criticism, negative expectations, and pessimism. These patterns develop over time, influenced by past experiences and early life events that shape a person’s worldview and attitudes.
There are several psychological approaches to treating low mood, including Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy.
CBT is a brief, structured therapy aimed at identifying and moderating unhelpful thinking patterns. It involves helping people to recognize unhelpful thoughts, question their accuracy, and replace them with more positive, realistic thoughts- whilst also being encouraged to do things differently (e.g. stop avoiding some things that may be beneficial for our wellbeing). DBT incorporates elements of CBT and mindfulness to help people regulate their emotions, cope with stress, and improve interpersonal relationships. MBCT is a form of CBT that involves mindfulness practices to help people focus on the present moment and detach from unhelpful thoughts and emotions.
Overall, low mood is a complex condition that affects many people of all ages and backgrounds. From a psychological perspective, unhelpful thinking patterns are a key contributor to depression, influencing a person’s perceptions, feelings, behaviours, and overall wellbeing. Fortunately, there are several approaches to treating low mood, providing effective means for reducing the impact of depression upon our lives and improving our overall wellbeing. Contact me above to discuss how I may be able to help.
