Depression
Posted by Tina Cannon PhD LMHC in Depression on 05-03-2009
Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood and thoughts. Depressive disorders come in different forms such as major depression, dysthymia and bipolar disorder. Within these forms of depression, there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity and persistence.
A depressive disorder is more than just a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of weakness or something that can be wished away. Someone afflicted with this disorder cannot just “pull themselves together” or “shake it off”. This disorder affects how a person eats and sleeps, how a person feels about themselves and thinks about things.
Major Depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms that interfer with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy activities once pleasurable. Some symptoms include:
- depressed mood
- loss of appetite
- diminished interest in or enjoyment of activities
- psychomotor agitation or retardation
- sleeplessness or hypersomnia
- lack of energy
- poor concentration
- social withdrawal
- suicidal thoughts and/or gestures
- feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or inappropriate guilt
- low self-esteem
- unresolved grief issues
- mood-related hallucinations or delusions
A disabling episode of depression may occur only once but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime.
We will talk more about the treatment of depression and the other forms of depression in subsequent posts.
