When everything takes more effort, you don't have to push through alone.

Low mood does not always look like sadness. Sometimes it is feeling flat, irritable or disconnected from things you used to enjoy. Everyday tasks take more effort. You may pull back from people, sleep too much or too little, and wonder why it seems easier for everyone else.

There are many reasons a person can feel this way. A difficult period at work, an injury, a loss or a major life change can all affect mood. Sometimes there is no obvious single cause.

What we might work on

Our first step is to make sense of what has changed and what matters most to you now. From there, therapy can help you notice patterns that leave you feeling stuck, such as:

• Withdrawing from people and activities
• Abandoning routines
• Being harsh with yourself when your energy is low

We may use CBT to work with unhelpful thinking patterns and gradually rebuild activity and connection. ACT and Schema Therapy can also help when mood is tied to long-standing beliefs about yourself, painful experiences or a sense that life has narrowed. We set a pace that is realistic for the energy you have.

Starting therapy

You do not have to arrive with a clear explanation or a list of goals. We can begin with what has been difficult lately and work out the next step together.