Appearing at box office hits like The Wolf of Wall Street, Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie and Paddington 2, Joanna Lumley’s success has not removed feelings of “sadness”.
Early last year, Joanna spoke about her mental health at ITV’s The Jonathan Ross Show.
The grandmother of two said she was occasionally “eclipsed by sadness or depression”.
Referring to him as the “black dog on his shoulder”, she went on to say that she felt “disgusting for two or three months”.
It is when the feeling of unhappiness lingers for days, weeks or months that it can be a sign of depression.
The severity of the symptoms “varies from person to person” and “from day to day”.
CALM said: “If you are suffering from depression, you may experience some or none of the following:
- Feeling discouraged regularly and for long periods of time
- Finding it hard to enjoy life
- Struggling to motivate
- Have low confidence or self-esteem
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Getting angry or angry more often
- Difficulty finding a way forward
- Have suicidal thoughts or thoughts of getting hurt
- Not wanting to be around friends and family or social situations. “
If you are struggling with challenging thoughts, call the Samaritans for free at 116 123.
Depression can also have physical symptoms, such as:
- Lack of energy
- Low sexual desire
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Increased smoking, drinking, or drug use
- Moving or speaking more slowly than normal
- Difficulty sleeping or disturbed sleep.
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“Many people who suffer from depression function normally on a daily basis and can be very successful in their lives and careers,” said CALM.
Triggers for depression can include personal situations, recent or old trauma and stress.
Sometimes there is no trigger at all, but remember, “You will not feel this way forever.”
How to deal with depression
CALM recommends using healthy distractions to stop oppressive feelings.
Some practical CALM tips include challenges to negative thinking patterns.
For example, try changing from “I can’t do this because” to “I can do this because”.
Another technique is to list things you like about yourself or do something nice for someone else – find more tips here.
Along with Emilia Fox, Michael Sheen, David Walliams and Noel Edmonds, Joanna Lumley will be on ITV’s Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway on Saturday, January 2 at 5:15 pm.