Depression

If you suffer from depression, one thing you will be aware of is that it is far more than just feeling down. In fact, depression affects not only how we feel, but how we think about things, our energy levels, our concentration, our sleep, even our interest in sex. So depression has an effect on many aspects of our lives.

Depression affects our motivation to do things. We feel apathetic and experience a loss of energy and interest - nothing seems worth doing, everything is so pointless that it's hopeless to even try. We have to drag ourselves around. Each day can be a torment of having to force ourselves to perform even the minor activities.

Is all depression the same? No.

That answer was short. There are a number of different types.


Major depression  has at least five of the following possible symptoms, which have to be present for at least two weeks.

• Low mood

• Marked loss of pleasure
 
• Significant change in appetite and a loss of at least 5 percent of normal body weight.

• Sleep disturbance
    
• Agitation or feelings of being slowed down

• Loss of energy or feeling fatigued virtually every day

• Feeling worthless, low self-esteem, tendency to feel guilty

• Loss of the ability to concentrate

• Thoughts of death and suicide

If you have such a list as this it is best to seek help from a doctor or a  mental health professional.

Depression can have an acute onset, (i.e within days or weeks), or come on gradually (over months or years). It can begin at any time.

Sadly, depression is very common. If you suffer from depression you may feel like a failure, if you have a lot of anger and hatred inside, if you are terrified out of your wits, if you think life is not worth living, if you feel trapped and desperate to escape, whatever your feeling, you are not the only one. So many people feel like you do.

Of course knowing this does not make your depression less painful, but it does mean that there is nothing bad about you because you are in this state of mind. These feelings are sadly often part of being depressed. Some people who have not been depressed may not understand it or may tell you to pull yourself together, but this does not mean that there is anything bad about you. It just means that they find it difficult to understand.

Remember, there are many things that can be done to help people who are depressed. There are some good drugs (antidepressants) available and many effective psychological treatments.