Understanding Low Mood
Everyone can have times when they feel low.
Everyone can have times when they feel low.
You might feel sad, flat, tired, less interested in things or simply not quite yourself.
Sometimes there is an obvious reason. Perhaps something difficult has happened, you are under pressure or life has not gone the way you hoped.
At other times, you may struggle to explain why you feel the way you do.
Low mood can affect people differently. Understanding what you are experiencing can be a useful first step.
What is low mood?
Low mood describes a period when you feel less positive than usual.
You might describe yourself as:
- sad
- flat
- fed up
- unhappy
- frustrated
- tearful
- tired
- lacking confidence
- less interested in things
It does not necessarily mean feeling extremely unhappy all of the time.
Sometimes low mood is more like feeling that the enjoyment, enthusiasm or energy has disappeared from everyday life.
You may still go to work, speak to people and get things done, but everything feels a little harder or less enjoyable than usual.
Why might I feel low?
There are many possible reasons.
Low mood can sometimes follow a difficult experience or period of change.
This could include:
- relationship difficulties
- problems at work
- money worries
- illness or injury
- caring responsibilities
- bereavement or loss
- loneliness
- disappointment
- losing a job
- major changes in your life
- feeling under pressure for a long time
Several smaller problems can also build up.
You might not identify one particular event and instead realise that life has simply been difficult for a while.
And sometimes people experience low mood without knowing why.
What can low mood feel like?
Low mood can affect more than your emotions.
You might notice that you:
- have less energy
- struggle to get motivated
- enjoy things less
- become more withdrawn
- find decisions harder
- feel less confident
- become frustrated more easily
- have difficulty concentrating
- sleep differently from usual
- feel more negative about yourself or your situation
You may not experience all of these.
It can be more useful to notice what has changed from what is normal for you.
Can low mood affect everyday life?
Yes.
When you feel low, ordinary things can sometimes require more effort.
You might stop replying to messages, put things off or turn down opportunities to see people.
Things you normally enjoy may not seem as appealing.
This can sometimes create a difficult pattern.
You feel low, so you do less.
Because you are doing less, you have fewer opportunities for enjoyment, achievement or connection with other people.
That can sometimes leave you feeling even lower.
Recognising that pattern does not mean you should force yourself to suddenly become busy.
It simply helps explain why small changes can sometimes be useful.
Is feeling low normal?
Periods of low mood can be a normal response to difficult events, disappointments and everyday pressures.
People can also feel low without an obvious reason.
For many people, these feelings improve.
What matters is not simply whether you feel low, but also how long it lasts, how strongly you are experiencing it and how much it is affecting your everyday life.
Persistent low mood can sometimes be associated with depression or another health problem, so it is worth paying attention to changes that continue or become more difficult to manage.
What can I do if I’m feeling low?
You do not have to solve everything immediately.
Start by noticing what has changed.
Ask yourself:
- How long have I felt like this?
- Has anything happened recently?
- What have I stopped doing?
- Am I becoming more isolated?
- Has my sleep changed?
- Am I eating regularly?
- Is there something worrying me that I have been avoiding?
- What normally helps me feel more like myself?
Talking to somebody you trust can also help.
Sometimes explaining how you feel out loud can make it easier to understand what has been happening.
When might I need more support?
Consider seeking additional support if your low mood is continuing, becoming difficult to manage or significantly affecting your work, relationships, sleep or everyday life.
NHS guidance recommends speaking to a GP if low mood has lasted for more than two weeks, you are struggling to cope, or things you are trying yourself are not helping.
You could speak to your GP or another healthcare professional about how you are feeling.
Counselling or talking therapies may also help some people explore what is contributing to their low mood and find ways of moving forward.
3.2 – Why Do I Feel Low When Nothing Is Obviously Wrong?
3.3 – Low Mood or Depression, What’s the Difference?
3.4 – Why Have I Lost Interest in Things?
3.5 – Why Don’t I Feel Motivated?
3.6 – Small Things to Try When You’re Feeling Low
General information only. This is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional healthcare advice.