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Why do my moods keep changing?

Everyone has a mixture of feelings, but during adolescence they can be more intense, harder to understand and more likely to swing between positive and negative. This is a normal part of growing up, so it may be hard to recognise if you have a more serious problem.

What is depression?

We all have times when we feel down or stressed, but if you are feeling negative or despairing a lot of the time, you may have depression. Other symptoms can be a loss of interest in things you normally enjoy, feelings of low self-worth and problems with sleeping and eating. Depression can vary from mild to chronic but the good news is that there is help and treatment available.

What is anxiety?

Everyone feels anxious or stressed from time to time but if you find that your anxiety is very intense or going on so long that it’s stopping you from doing things, then it’s important to get help. You might be experiencing panic attacks or find your anxiety gets worse in particular situations.  Some people experience anxiety and depression together. There is support and treatment available to help you with your anxiety.

What can I do if I have depression or anxiety?

If you are struggling and finding things difficult, it’s important to talk to someone you trust who can help you get the support you need. This might be a family member, a friend, your GP or someone you can trust at school or college. You can also talk to a Talksafe Peer Mentor or Counsellor. 

What can help if I am feeling down or stressed?

If you are feeling low and stressed but you don’t think you have depression or anxiety you could try the following. But if you don’t feel any better try talking to someone.

• Get enough sleep
• Eat healthily
• Exercise
• Talk to someone
• Have a bath
• Read a book
• Learn something new
• Do something for someone else.

What do I do if I feel like killing myself (suicidal) or my friend is?

Feeling like killing yourself is common among people who are depressed, but it is important to know that there is help and you are not alone.

For immediate help you can call Samaritans 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 08457 90 90 90. They have been trained to help people in your situation. You can also call them if you are worried about a friend or just need someone to talk to.

And for more long-term help, it would be useful to talk to a counsellor who can help you deal with your problems and hopefully find some solutions to improve your life. You can get a referral from your GP, or talk to a Talksafe Peer Mentor or Counsellor.

Wellbeing quiz

How are you? Sometimes we forget to ask ourselves that question, and sometimes no-one else remembers to ask us. Take this quiz to see how you are doing.

Links

Young Minds: Depression

Samaritans: Your Emotional Health

Youth Beyond Blue: Depression and Anxiety

World Health Organization: Depression

Mind: Understanding Depression

Last review: 27/05/11 - Next review: 27/05/13