What is Depression?

Depression is a low mood that lasts for a long time, and affects your everyday life. In its mildest form, depression can mean just being in low spirits. It doesn't stop you leading your normal life but makes everything harder to do and seem less worthwhile. It’s common for someone who suffers with gambling harms to experience depression and for some gambling is seen as a way to escape a low mood.

How you might feel

• down, upset or tearful
• restless, agitated or irritable
• guilty, worthless and down on yourself
• empty and numb
• isolated and unable to relate to other people
• finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy
• a sense of unreality
• no self-confidence or self-esteem
• hopeless and despairing

 How you might behave

• avoiding social events and activities you usually enjoy
• self-harming or suicidal behaviour
• difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions
• difficulty remembering or concentrating on things
• using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual
• difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
• feeling tired all the time
• no appetite and losing weight, or eating too much and gaining weight
• physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause
• moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated.

Experiencing depression can be very difficult, but there are steps you can take that might help. This page has some suggestions for you to consider