Why The Long Face?

It sounds like a simple question but, of course, it is never as simple as that. In this Ep, the good doctor tries to shed some light on the mechanisms behind why some many people suffering from depression have benefited from a drug intervention, under the ham-fisted questioning of his co-host. As always, we try very hard to take a balanced view, and will soon have another Ep on the disadvantages of a drug-based treatment regime. Have a listen!This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes light-hearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

Only two days after our last Ep and here comes another, which we couldn't wait to share!Wikipedia defines a cognitive distortion as an "exaggerated or irrational thought pattern". Back in the 90s, the great Aaron T Beck recognised that there were several identifiable and common negative thought patterns and thought, slightly counter the the prevailing psychoanalytical theories of the time, that these ingrained ways of seeing one's world could, in certain individuals, lead to mental health issues such as depression.In this episode we explore 15 of these cognitive distortions and are surprised to find how many of them we are victim of in are own funny little ways! This, of course, does not mean we are all suffering from depression, but it certainly suggests that maybe we are not as immune to it as we thought, and need to watch out for unhelpful thoughts in our lives.This is "Why the long face?". In which we attempt to lift the lid on depression. But doing it in a lighthearted and non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul is a psychiatrist for 30 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and I am a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

Here in the UK, three times more men take their lives than women but, more generally, twice as many women report suffering from depression. As we know, depression is far from the only reason people will take their own lives, but are there reasons that men seem to report depression less? Does hidden depression exist, do men respond to the stresses of life differently or do they still have a problem opening up? All this will be discussed in our spanking new Ep. Please continue to let us know your thoughts, and gents... if you're suffering, please, please, please, do not continue to do so in silence... you owe it to yourself to get help.This is "Why the long face?". In which we attempt to lift the lid on depression. But doing it in a light hearted and non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul is a psychiatrist for 30 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and I am a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

In this Ep, we talk about one of the main causes of depression and, some might say paradoxically, one of its main symptoms. However, closer examination of anxiety and the ways it can take over peoples' lives, one gets more of an understanding of how these two horrible problems can take hold and become inextricably linked.This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

Please accept our humble apologies for the long periods of silliness in this episode. We got carried away and had too much fun. There is no excuse, except that Ziggy Freud did do some extraordinary things in the way of science. We try to keep it on track, but be warned, that there are times in this Ep where two men with a combined age of 103, titter away like the childish idiots we sometimes are. We have thought long and hard about what we have done.... are putting it out anyway!This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

Our sack continues to bulge! In this week's rummage, we talk a bit more about bipolar and jam about epigenetics, which is a wide topic, but does have some relevance in the theories of why some mental illnesses are thought to have a genetic component. It's a pretty technical subject but super interesting. (everything needs to have a "super" prefix these days, right?)This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

This bonanza, super-sized episode covers in great detail the process of grief and how it links (or not) to clinical depression. We also take a look at Richard's story - a friend of both of us who lost his sight aged 24 and battled with loss and grief. But could he have been categorised as depressed in the medical sense?This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

Well, we all made it through January and those cold mornings and early darkness can be grim. But some people really suffer in the winter to the point where they become clinically depressed. This is known as SAD or "Winter Depression" and in this Ep we explore what it is like and how people suffering can be helped.This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

Here's a little quirky little mid-week number. We have been reciting poems and song lyrics to each other as we often do in our down time, but have noticed how well well non-prose can describe the despair. But that's what poetry is all about right? Hope you enjoy our small selection and fee free to suggest your own!This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

One of the reasons to start the podcast was to examine certain common misunderstandings about mental health, to try to offer some comfort to those who think their situation is hopeless and show them that it is far from that. As such, this is one of the most important episodes. Needless to say, if you find yourself feeling suicide, please, please, please do what we say in the episode and reach out to someone you trust, now!This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.

In our episode on depression in women, we mentioned Horatio and his "catching the snowball" metaphor. Horatio is one of our Unknown Depressive Heroes. He has been in touch a few times since the podcast started from deepest Borneo. Actually not sure if it's deepest, but it sounded right for some reason. Anyhow, Horatio has been kind enough to share his struggles in some detail, including some excellent coping methods he has found useful over the years. Because we mentioned him in this weekend's episode, we thought we'd better get this mailbag out pronto. So here it is! Thanks Horatio.... you rock!This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

In this one, we go on a bit (firstly about warm, insipid beer) and then, much more importantly on the subject of whether there is a difference in the way men and women present and experience depression. We cover a lot of ground from biology, pregnancy, culture and, as always, recovery and lightness.This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.

In the first of our extra mid week treats, we open our bulging sack and display it for all to see: we will talk about a new theory of depression linking it to a physical reaction to infection, taking the best bits from CBT and tackling the guild some people feel in how they have tried to help with the suffering of someone they love.This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

Although we were both a little jaded when we started this one, we soon got into it because the subject was fascinating, i.e. what physical maladies can lead to depression... there will be some surprises and new things to learn. So it's not "all in the mind" after all! Our Depressive Hero of the Week (DHW) is a classic. Watch out for two fantastic impressions!This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

Due to press reporting of this issue this week, we have decided to publish this one early. We had a really interesting chat on how Social Media has added both a new risk to people with vulnerability to anxiety and depression but also a new tool for sufferers. As always, we'd love to know what you think coz we ain't get all the answers!This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

In this episode we are on coffee, BUT manage to rattle on about how creativity can be born out of depression and also how the process and stresses of constantly creating brings its own stresses and issues. The Depressive Hero of the Week is Spike Milligan who, perhaps more than any other comedian, epitomises the "sad clown" and someone who has both suffered for his art and used his struggles as a factor which helps him to redefine comedy.This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

In this episode we look at Bipolar depression. What it is, how it presents and what can be done about it. We also introduce the idea of a "Depressive Hero of the Week" - this week Paul is using the example of the great Stephen Fry, a comedic hero of us both, but a man who has had and continues to have struggles with his mental health.This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

In this episode we look at some of the theories what makes people depressed. You won't be surprised to learn that it is not often straightforward.This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

In this episode we look at the different types of depression and how they affect sufferers. Some of it may surprise you.This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.Cheers!

This is "Why the long face?" in which we lift the lid on depression in a sometimes lighthearted and always non-judgemental way.It is a conversation between two old friends, usually over a drink or two.Paul has been a psychiatrist for 20 years and has done years of research into mood disorders and Oliver is a business consultant who has dealt with a lot of depression and its consequences in the workplace.In this episode we look at the stigma of depression and the courage it takes to admit to yourself, and others, that you are suffering.Cheers!