Feeling Down

Feeling down may simply be a part of who we are. Most British people have a short serotonin transporter gene, making us vulnerable to low moods. To curb it, followthe five steps to happiness recommended by the NHS:

• Connect with other people
• Stay active
• Keep learning
• Be mindful 
• Give to others - even if it's only a smile

Warwick University study reported in Good Housekeeping, Nov. 2015

Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days. We all go through spells of feeling down, but when you're depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days.
Some people still think that depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition. They're wrong. Depression is a real illness with real symptoms, and it's not a sign of weakness or something you can "snap out of" by "pulling yourself together". The good news is that with the right treatment and support, most people can make a full recovery.

Read more about depression on the NHS website http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Depression/Pages/Introduction.aspx