Depression can take on entirely different symptoms in each of us. We all experience depression differently, and each time it consumes us it can feel different from the last.

When I’m in my auto-pilot, numb mode, it feels like the sensation of actually being trapped inside a giant balloon. It feels impossible to kick holes in my imaginary rubber trap. It’s not peaceful at all, and I’m sure that actually it impairs my hearing!

Other times it leaves me feeling cross and highly strung. And this, for an odd reason, seems to sharpen my intuition. I entirely fixate on my gut feelings and sensitivities, and not just my own, since I tend to pick up on the moods and feelings of the people around me.

Most of our communication is nonverbal – all of us animal worshippers know this on quite a magical scale. All of us have experienced this: think of how many faces we glance at every single day. Now, think of the ones that we hold our eyes on, sometimes fix a momentary gaze upon. It’s because we’ve been able to sense something about how they are feeling, or we have a connection with that person in some way. We can notice their slightest nuances, and are naturally gifted at picking up on body language – the nervous hands, gnawing at knuckles, their avoidance of eye contact…

If this sounds a bit like you, then why not start striking up smiles and chatter? See if you are brave enough to start asking people how they are feeling. Practice this next time you see an elderly person struggling with their shopping. Perhaps, next time you are in a queue at the checkout, turn to an angsty-looking person and simply smile from the heart. They will see the truth in your eyes, and you could just be that person who’s popped their balloon!

Just asking someone how they are could lead to a friendly chat, which in turn could help them to open up about how they are feeling, or share their worries about something on their mind. You could help to give someone that little bit of human petrol to support them throughout the rest of the day – you never know how far a smile or the start of a simple conversation may go.