Sadness and Depression
What is depression?
Everyone has times when they feel sad or down. They’re natural emotions caused by things that happen in our lives, and anyone can be affected.
We all know there’s lots of different things that make us feel sad. Maybe you’ve had an argument with a friend, or a breakup. Perhaps you scored badly on an exam at school, or your footy team can’t ever seem to win a game. One of the most intense kinds of sadness is grief, which we might experience if someone close to us dies.
Usually people are able to deal with their sadness and, with time and a little care, the feeling starts to fade.
People might sometimes say they’re depressed when what they really mean is they’re sad. That’s because there’s a difference between sadness and depression.
Depression is more than an occasional sad feeling, more than just feeling out of sorts or being in a funk. Depression involves strong emotions like anguish, discouragement, despair, or bleakness. It can last for a long time, even for months or years.
Depression can be a combination of feelings and symptoms. You should speak to someone you trust if you experience five or more of the following:
- sadness/irritability
- changes in weight and appetite
- feelings of guilt/hopelessness or worthlessness
- trouble concentrating, remembering things and making decisions
- tiredness and loss of energy
- disturbances in sleeping
- restlessness or decreased activity
- thoughts of suicide or death.
It’s not uncommon for people with cystic fibrosis to experience depression. It’s important to know that it can be treated and this does not mean it will be a long-term condition.
Who to talk to and how to get help
It’s always good to share your worries with someone you trust. If you think that depression is becoming a problem for you and is stopping you doing the things in life that you want to do, it can help to get some support from a trusted adult. Some of the people to talk to might be a parent or family member, your CF clinic team, your family doctor, a psychologist or counsellor, a teacher or another school staff member such as a nurse, wellbeing officer or year coordinator.
Finding support
The links below can assist you to find information services and supports in your area.
If you are having a tough time and need someone to talk to right now, the following services are there to listen and help you out. They are confidential and available 24/7.
Lifeline – Call 13 11 14, Online Chat (7pm-12am), Visit lifeline.org.au
Kids Help Line – Call 1300 659 467, Online Chat, Visit kidshelpline.com.au
The views, experiences or comments shared on this website are not medical advice and may not reflect opinions or beliefs of Cystic Fibrosis Community Care. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions regarding your health.