What is Depression?

August 4, 2013

1 minute read

Depression is a “whole-body” illness, involving your body, mood and thoughts. It affects the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you think about things. Depression is not the same as a temporary blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with depression cannot merely “pull themselves together” and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from Depression.

Symptoms of Depression

Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom listed. Some people experience a few symptoms, some people experience many. Also, the severity of symptoms varies between individuals.

Symptoms of Depression include:

Persistent sad, or “empty” mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
Feelings of hopelessness and pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness and self-reproach
Insomnia or hypersomnia, early morning awakening, or oversleeping
Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
Decreased energy, fatigue and feeling run down
Increased use of alcohol and drugs, may be associated but not a criteria for diagnosis
Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
Restlessness, irritability, hostility
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
Deterioration of social relationships