Living with depression - Course Structure and Aim

This two day workshop is aimed at those individuals who suffer from Mild, Moderate, Reactive and Neurotic Depression. This course is designed to offer participants self-help skills to assist them in recognising personal ‘triggers’ and to reduce and manage their symptoms.

The course explains what depression and what the possible causes are. You will look at various self-help skills which include Visualisation, Nutrition, Relaxation and you will also look at Emotion/Posture work. This workshop is a way to learn how to help yourself and to recognise your triggers – in doing this, you will understand how to manage your depression, so that the depression doesn’t manage you. The emphasis is on working in a relaxed, nurturing, excepting environment, creating a safe place for this deep, life changing work to be done. Groups are purposefully kept small to help create a more personal and safe environment as this is an experiential-based course.

The ‘Shining Bright’ Living with Depression course is structured across two days.

DAYS 1 & 2

Initially, you will begin by looking at what Depression is. The aim of the course is to enable the participant to cope with their depression and reduce their symptoms and help themselves using new skills.

What is Depression?

This part of the course focuses on the definition of being depressed, the state of excessive sadness and lethargy and how this affects our thinking and general well being. The course reviews how this can make us feel dejected and inadequate and the impact that this has on our lives.

What Causes Depression?

Depressive symptoms can be caused by certain chemicals in the brain and this can be seen as the cause of depression at a basic level. Depressive moods can vary in intensity and type from person to person and stress can play a key factor.

Who is at greater risk of depression?

This part of the course will review various different risk groups such as genetics, personality types, loss, abuse. Long term illness and negative thinking can play a part in bringing on depression or exacerbating it.

Depression Triggers

Stress and loss are the most likely triggers for depression, for example, losing a partner, child, job, the breakdown of a marriage, loss of self esteem etc. This can vary from person to person but it is important to identify your own triggers and what is behind them. This will be a key step in your recovery.

How to recognise Depressive Symptoms

This part of the course involves group discussion around feelings and experiences of living with depression. Each person can learn from the other members of the group by sharing their experience and also it is very beneficial to begin the talking process for yourself.

Exercise and Environment

Exercise is a good way to improve your general well-being and to increase fitness levels and stamina. This will make you feel physically stronger and increase your energy levels, your appetite and will also increase the movement of energy within your body. This has an effect on your emotional, mental and physical well-being. The environment and weather play an important factor in this and this aspect is fully experienced.

Nutrition and Impact

Healthy eating and balanced diets are often talked about in the media but the different options available to us can be very confusing. This area will focus on the healthy, organic foods that should be an important part of our lives, containing the right levels of the different food groups. This improves energy and gives us healthy nutrients to maintain a good metabolism. Preparation and cooking procedures can have an impact on this and different metabolic rates also need to be considered.

Colour and Impact

Colour therapy is an important part of this course. Colours can have an impact on the way we feel about ourselves, our moods and have an impact on positive and negative emotions. Colour is looked at in detail to identify what colours can create positivity in our lives and be beneficial in terms of creating enthusiasm and independence for example.

Relaxation

Relaxation is a key skill for depression sufferers as stress can be such a trigger for many of us. Breathing is fundamental to relaxation exercises as it slowly and deeply reduces stress levels.

Shining Bright’s Living with Depression Course involves each person taking responsibility for themselves and taking an active part in their own healing program. This is vital for personal growth and healing. Courses are conducted in a safe, nurturing, healing environment and will feel comfortable and relaxed. You will learn, through the series of therapeutic techniques mentioned, skills that will assist with recognising your depressive symptoms and what skills to apply to combat them. Applying these skills can lead you towards a balanced, healthy and happy life.