“Nothing I used to enjoy gives me pleasure any more.”
Depression and low mood
Long-lasting low mood, lack of motivation, tiredness and the thought that “nothing will change”. With small, realistic steps we try to make room for daily life again.
Depression is not just “being sad”. It is often felt as heaviness, lack of motivation and a tiredness that makes daily tasks hard. The person blames themselves and says “I should pull myself together”, but the harder they push, the more exhausted they become.
One of the first steps in cognitive behavioural therapy is behavioural activation: instead of waiting for the mood to improve, starting with small, meaningful activities. A walk, a message to a friend, half an hour of work. Then we look together at the thinking patterns that feed the depression.
Depression sometimes needs to be treated together with medication. If there is a marked drop in sleep, appetite or functioning, I may suggest a psychiatric assessment. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, please do not wait for an appointment: call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department.
What you may notice
- Sadness, emptiness or numbness lasting weeks
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Difficulty getting up in the morning, constant tiredness
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Marked changes in sleep and appetite
Who is it for?
- People starting to struggle with daily tasks
- Those who have not recovered after a loss, a break-up or a change of job
- Those who want therapy alongside medication
- Those who have had a depressive episode before and want to prevent a relapse
Depression and low mood: how we work
Activity plan
We start not by waiting for mood to lift but by moving with small activities.
Thought record
We notice thoughts like “nothing will change” and examine them with the evidence.
Daily rhythm
Sleep, meals, movement and light: the basic routine that carries the day.
Relapse prevention
We write down your early warning signs and prepare a plan for hard days.
Other areas of work
- Anxiety and constant worryI can’t switch off the “what ifs” in my head.
- Panic attacksWhy does my heart start racing out of nowhere?
- Relationship patternsWhy do I keep ending up in the same kind of relationship?
- Work stress and burnoutMy stomach knots up on Sunday evenings.
- Self-criticism and perfectionismWhatever I do, it is never good enough.