Depression is more than feeling sad for a few days. It’s a persistent heaviness that affects how you think, feel and function. The energy drains away. Things that once brought pleasure lose their appeal. Getting through ordinary tasks can feel like wading through thick fog.
If this resonates with what you’ve been experiencing, you’re far from alone. Research from Maynooth University and Trinity College Dublin found that major depressive disorder affects approximately 12% of Irish adults, making it one of the most common mental health conditions in the country. Depression has a lifetime prevalence of 12 to 20%, meaning at least one in six people will experience it at some stage of their lives.
Recognising Depression
Depression shows up differently for different people. The core experience is usually a persistent low mood and a loss of interest in things you previously enjoyed. But the symptoms extend well beyond sadness.
You might notice changes in sleep, either struggling to get enough or sleeping far more than usual. Your appetite may shift dramatically in either direction. Concentration becomes difficult. Small decisions feel overwhelming. You may feel irritable, tearful, hopeless or numb. Some people experience physical symptoms like fatigue, aches or digestive problems with no clear medical cause.
Aware’s 2024 national survey found that while most Irish adults recognise low mood as a symptom of depression, awareness of the broader picture remains limited. Only 13% mentioned sleep changes, and just 8% cited suicidal thoughts as potential symptoms. Understanding the full range matters because it helps people recognise when they need support.
If you’ve been experiencing several of these symptoms for more than two weeks, it’s worth speaking with someone who can help.
When to Seek Help
Many people wait far too long before reaching out. They tell themselves it’s not serious enough, that they should be able to manage alone, that they’ll feel better eventually. Sometimes they do. But often depression persists or worsens without treatment.
The right time to seek help is when you’ve been struggling for more than a couple of weeks, when your symptoms are affecting your daily life, relationships or work, or when you simply feel you need support. You don’t need to be at crisis point. In fact, addressing depression earlier typically leads to better outcomes.
If you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please reach out immediately. You can contact your GP, present at A&E, or call Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24 hours) or Pieta House on 1800 247 247.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to see my GP first?
No referral is required to access private therapy. However, seeing your GP can be helpful for ruling out physical causes, discussing medication options if appropriate, and having your mental health monitored alongside therapy. Many people find a combination of therapy and medication works best for moderate to severe depression.
How long does therapy for depression take?
This varies considerably. Research suggests meaningful improvement often occurs within 8 to 20 sessions, though some people benefit from longer treatment. Factors affecting duration include the severity of your depression, how long you’ve been experiencing it, whether there are underlying issues to address, and how you respond to treatment.
Will I need medication as well?
Not necessarily. For mild to moderate depression, therapy alone is often effective. For more severe depression, combining therapy with antidepressant medication typically produces better outcomes than either alone. Your therapist can discuss this with you and, if medication seems appropriate, recommend you speak with your GP.
What if I’ve tried therapy before and it didn’t work?
Previous unsuccessful therapy doesn’t mean therapy can’t help you. The therapeutic relationship matters enormously. A different therapist using a different approach may produce very different results. It’s also worth considering whether the timing was right, whether you were able to engage fully, and what specifically didn’t work, as this information may help in identifying a suitable therapist for you.
Can online therapy help with depression?
Yes. Research shows online therapy is effective for depression, with outcomes comparable to face-to-face work for many people. Mind and Body Works offers online sessions through secure video platforms, providing flexibility if you can’t easily attend in person.
How Therapy Helps
Depression can make you feel isolated, as though nobody could possibly understand what you’re going through. Therapy provides a confidential space where you can talk openly about your experience with someone trained to help.
A therapist won’t simply tell you to think positively or offer advice you’ve already tried. Instead, they help you understand what’s happening beneath the surface: the thought patterns that maintain low mood, the circumstances that triggered this episode, the coping strategies that might actually work for you.
NICE guidelines recommend several talking therapies for depression, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), behavioural activation and psychodynamic approaches. The evidence supports their effectiveness, with CBT in particular showing benefits comparable to medication for many people, and with lower relapse rates when treatment ends.
Therapy also provides something that can feel scarce when you’re depressed: consistent support. Your therapist is there week after week, helping you track progress, adjust approaches that aren’t working, and build skills for managing difficult periods in the future.
What to Expect from Treatment
The first session is introductory. You’ll discuss what’s been happening, how long you’ve been feeling this way, and what you’re hoping to get from therapy. Your therapist will ask questions about your current situation, relevant history and any previous treatment. There’s no pressure to reveal everything at once.
Sessions typically last 50 minutes and usually happen weekly. The number you’ll need depends on the severity of your depression and your response to treatment. Some people find meaningful improvement within eight to twelve sessions. Others benefit from longer-term work, particularly if depression has been present for years or keeps returning.
Your therapist will use approaches suited to your particular situation. This might include examining thought patterns that maintain low mood, identifying activities that could improve how you feel, exploring the roots of your depression in past experiences, or working on relationships and communication patterns. Often it’s a combination.
Progress isn’t always linear. Some weeks feel better, others worse. What matters is the overall trajectory and whether you’re developing tools to manage depression more effectively.
Therapeutic Approaches for Depression
Different approaches work for different people. Mind and Body Works therapists draw on multiple evidence-based methods.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) examines how thoughts, feelings and behaviours connect. Depression often involves characteristic thinking patterns such as focusing on negatives, predicting the worst, discounting positives and harsh self-criticism. CBT helps you identify these patterns and develop more balanced perspectives. It also includes behavioural strategies like activity scheduling to counteract the withdrawal that depression typically causes.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) focuses on relationships and how they affect mood. Depression often emerges during difficult life transitions, conflicts with important people, grief or social isolation. IPT helps you navigate these interpersonal challenges more effectively.
Psychodynamic therapy explores how earlier experiences, particularly from childhood, shape current patterns. If depression seems connected to longstanding themes in your life, or if you want to understand the deeper roots of your difficulties, this approach may suit you.
Behavioural activation focuses specifically on increasing engagement with rewarding activities. Depression tends to create a vicious cycle: low mood leads to withdrawal, which leads to fewer positive experiences, which deepens low mood. Breaking this cycle through gradual reengagement can significantly improve how you feel.
Ready to take the next step?
If you’ve been struggling with depression, reaching out for support takes courage. Our therapists are here to help you through this difficult time.
You can select a therapist online or contact our centres directly for assistance in making an appointment.
Book an appointment or call 01 677 1021.
