Everyone feels sad or low at some stage of their lives.
A distressing event or major change in your life can affect your mood. But sometimes it's possible to feel low for no clear reason.
A low mood can make you feel less confident, tired, frustrated, angry or worried.
Our tips to help with low mood can help to boost your energy levels and your mood.
Signs of low mood
A low mood can affect how you think, feel and behave, including:
- feeling sad or not enjoying things as much as you did
- feeling anxious or panicky
- being more tired than usual or sleep problems
- being irritable
- feeling angry or frustrated
- feeling worthless or guilty
- an increase or decrease in your appetite
- finding it hard to concentrate
- loss of interest in sex
A low mood often gets better after a few days or weeks. If it lasts longer than 2 weeks, it may be a sign of depression and you may need to talk to someone else.
Causes of low mood
There are many reasons why you might feel low at some point in your life. Any difficult event or experience can affect your mood.
Some things that may cause a low mood include:
- pressure at work
- unemployment
- retirement
- relationship difficulties
- divorce
- caring for someone
- financial problems
- illness or injury
- bereavement
It's also possible to feel low without there being an obvious reason.
Low mood can also be part of stress.
Tips to help with low mood
There are many things you can do to help improve your mood by making small changes at a time.
Self-help resources for low mood
Headspace app
An app that teaches meditation and mindfulness skills.
Get Headspace from the App Store
Get Headspace from Google Play
Minding your Wellbeing Programme videos
5 videos that help you learn more about mindfulness, gratitude, self-care and resilience.
Watch the Minding Your Wellbeing Programme videos
Stress Control course
For many people, stress can include or be linked to feelings of anxiety or low mood.
Our 'Stress Control' course can help you learn stress management skills.
When to talk to someone else
If you have tried our tips and the self help resources but you think you need extra support, it may help to talk to someone.
Mental health supports and services
Text 50808
A free text message service to chat anonymously with someone for support. Funded by the HSE.
Text HELLO to 50808 to chat with a volunteer, anytime.
Aware
Information, support and peer groups for people with mild to moderate depression.
Freephone 1800 80 48 48, 10am to 10pm every day
Samaritans
Samaritans services are available anytime, for confidential and non-judgemental support.
Freephone Samaritans on 116 123
Worried about someone else
If you notice someone is struggling with their mental health, this can be worrying. You may not know what to do.
Read our advice on how to help someone experiencing mental health issues
Non-urgent advice: Talk to a GP or mental health professional if:
- you are finding it hard to cope
- low mood is having a negative affect on your day-to-day life
- your low mood has been going on for a while or getting worse
Ask for an urgent appointment if you are in crisis.
Urgent advice: If you feel you are going to harm yourself or someone else, get help as soon as possible from:
- the nearest emergency department (ED)
- emergency services on 112 or 999
If you go to an ED, it can help to bring someone with you.