This document discusses depression and disability. It notes that feeling down or sad is a normal human emotion in response to difficult life events or changes, but that more prolonged or severe depression may require treatment. The signs and symptoms of clinical depression are outlined. Counseling and anti-depressant medication are presented as common treatment options for depression. Tips are provided for coping with feelings of sadness and supporting others who are experiencing depression.

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Depression and Disability
Feelings and Disability to you dies it can take many months
to get over it but during this time
Many people with long-term physical your mind is working hard at getting
difficulties don’t like using the word used to the loss. At first, you may
‘disabled’ about themselves but it be sad all the time; gradually you
is the word that the government are sad for less time and eventually
uses to talk about people who you may be able to remember the
have a long-term health problem. person with fondness and even
If you need to claim Benefits then smile at good memories.
it may be a ‘Disability’ Benefit or if
an employer or a college treat you We call this feeling ‘grief’ and
unfairly then it will ‘Disability’ law the process ‘grieving’. But other
that is being broken. So we will changes in our lives can make us
carry on using this word here. feel the same way. Breaking up with
a close friend, losing a job we like,
Everybody, disabled or not, goes and so on. While we are getting
through times when they feel ‘down’ used to the changes, we will feel
or low in mood, sometimes for days low.
or weeks at a time. Sometimes we
know why we feel this way – losing Sometimes we don’t know why
somebody close, or having other we are feeling this way but there is
things go on in our lives which we always a reason. Sometimes we are
don’t want, for instance. so used to trying to deal with what
is making us feel low that we stop
Because we can’t control everything noticing it. When the feelings go on
that happens in our lives, bad things for a long time this can be puzzling
are bound to happen from time to for us, and for those around us who
time. What this means is that feeling can see that there is something
down is ‘normal’. If someone close wrong.

2. Depression and Disability
Living with any type of disability is So, if you feel down for a week
difficult. It can often seem that other or so, try:
people around you get what they
want more easily. It may seem to To talk to someone else you
you that there are things you would trust about how you feel
like to do that you will never be able
to. Other people are not always To remember that what you are
kind if they know you are disabled. having to cope with is difficult
But because disabled people have
to cope with these things every day, Not to get angry with yourself
they sometimes stop realising how –remember that you are coping
hard it is, begin to feel very down with something that some
and sometimes don’t know why. people couldn’t cope with at all
If you get down sometimes, try
to think how someone who is not
disabled would feel if they suddenly To treat yourself as
became disabled and had to cope sympathetically as you would
with all the problems you have want to treat somebody else
to cope with all the time. You are who was going through the
probably doing very well to cope same thing.
with all your problems.
To keep on meeting friends and
Actually, a lot of people who become doing the things you know you
disabled, as a result of accidents enjoy - even if you don’t really
for instance, do find it very hard feel like it you will probably feel
to cope and get very down before better afterwards.
they learn how to cope.
Disability and Depression
Even when we know why we are
feeling low it is often helpful to talk If you feel low for more than a few
about it to somebody else. Sharing weeks and you don’t know why; if
problems with somebody you trust you can’t tell yourself to ‘snap out
is usually a good idea, especially if of it’ or if the things that usually
they have experienced the same interest you don’t cheer you up
difficulties themselves. If that isn’t then you may be experiencing
possible then you can sometimes what is often called ‘depression’
find people who are trained to help. and you may need special help to
start feeling better.

3. Most disabled people are not Feeling that you are to blame
depressed and disabled people for a lot of what goes wrong
who become depressed do not
stay depressed. This is another Losing confidence in yourself
way of saying that it may not be
the disability itself which causes Wanting to harm or kill yourself
depression but how people cope
with it. If you become depressed it Crying or feeling like crying
may be that you are having to cope although you didn’t cry easily
with change or something new. before
The difference between feeling Being restless a lot of the time
‘down’ and feeling depressed is
that when you are depressed, the Lack of energy and feeling tired
feelings are deeper and last for a lot of the time
longer. If you are down, you can
often tell yourself to do things to Sleeping much more than usual
make you feel better; that doesn’t or having trouble getting off to
work when people are depressed sleep
because they lose interest totally.
Feeling bad tempered a lot of
This is list of what might happen the time
if you or someone you know gets
depressed.
Wanting to eat a lot more or a
lot less than usual
Feeling sad nearly all the time
Not being able to concentrate
Feeling hopeless about your as well as before, finding it very
future difficult to make decisions
Feeling like a failure or feeling Smoking or drinking too much.
worthless Relying on social drugs.
Not enjoying things you used to If you have had a number of these
enjoy, losing interest in things problems for more than a couple
you used to be interested in, of weeks, or if you know someone
losing interest in sex who seems to have these problems,

4. Depression and Disability
then getting help from someone else You will probably need to see
is important. your counsellor every one or two
weeks to begin with and you
Remember, becoming depressed should expect to be seeing them
is not being “silly” or a sign of for at least 6 months – feelings of
weakness. There are always real depression tend to get better quite
reasons for becoming depressed slowly but you can expect to get
and help is available. back to normal eventually.
You may be a part of a support Anti-Depressants
group or be part of an organisation
(such as Shine) which can help, so If counselling is not available or
try this first. if you are really depressed, your
doctor might suggest you take
Most people who become anti-depressants.
depressed go to their own doctor,
who can make a further referral if It is true that taking pills will not solve
specialist treatment is required. problems but sometimes people
are so depressed that they lack the
Dealing with Depression mental energy to sort things out.
Anti-depressants will sometimes
There are two main ways of dealing help by making you feel more like
with depression: tackling problems. Sometimes you
can take anti-depressants and have
Talking about problems to a counselling at the same time but
trained person the type of antidepressant needs to
be carefully chosen by your doctor
Taking drugs called ‘anti- for this to happen.
depressants’ which are
prescribed by a doctor. Most anti-depressants are not
addictive and you can come off
Your doctor should be able to refer them quite easily when the time
you to a counsellor or another comes. You need to be taking them
suitable therapist who will be able to for 3 to 4 weeks before they start
find out why you are depressed and to work and you need to take them
help you to deal with it. When this is for at least 3 months before you
available, this is first thing to try. can tell whether they are working

5. for you. Doctors prefer depressed
patients to keep taking them for 6 How to help other people
months. who become depressed.
Anti-depressants can make you People who become badly
feel peculiar or a bit poorly when depressed can lose interest in
you first start taking them but most helping themselves and they may
people manage to cope. If you have started to shut themselves
get severe problems you should away from other people. It may
tell your doctor. Do not increase seem to you that they are not
or reduce the amount you take interested in being with you.
without discussing it with your
doctor. Drinking alcohol or taking Underneath the depression though,
other drugs while you are taking there is usually a strong need to be
anti-depressants can be dangerous close to others.
– again, discuss this with your
doctor. If they don’t seem interested in
seeing you, try to show that you still
When you feel the time has come want to see them. Listen to them if
to stop taking antidepressants, they want to talk about problems.
discuss this with your doctor. You
will usually need to reduce the Being with a depressed person
amount you take gradually. is often no fun – be prepared for
their gloomy thoughts and lack
of interest. Don’t tell them to “pull
themselves together”. Being badly
depressed means that they can’t
do this.
Most important, accept that you
may not be able bring them out of
depression yourself and try not to
feel responsible if you seem to be
failing.

6. If you are worried, suggest that
they go to see their doctor if they For further information
haven’t already been. If they won’t,
don’t be afraid to tell someone else For more help and information about
who can help, even if the depressed depression contact:
person seems not to want you to.
It is important that they get to see MIND
someone who can help without www.mind.org.uk
becoming too emotionally involved. Mindinfo Line: 0845 766 0163
The person’s doctor, a teacher or a
parent are people you could tell.
The Depression Alliance
www.depressionalliance.org
A depressed person may not want 0845 123 23 20
you to do this at the time, but may
well thank you later when they can
The Royal College of Psychiatrists
understand that you needed to
www.rcpsych.ac.uk
help.
With thanks to Dr James Meikle,
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
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spina bifida, their families and carers. To donate to Shine please visit
www.shinecharity.org.uk or call 01733 421329.
This information has been produced by Shine’s medical advisers and
approved by Shine’s Medical Advisory Committee of senior medical
professionals.
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