What is Depression?

Depression is serious condition and a mood disorder that causes a person to feel constant feelings of sadness and a lack of interest. Depression is also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression. The condition can be quite debilitating as it tends to take control of how you think, feel, and behave. This can cause a number of physical and emotional issues that can have a very negative affect on a person’s quality of life.

Depression is more than just feeling sad every once in a while. People who are depressed feel sad most of the time and have a hard time gaining control to feel happy again. People who suffer from depression may experience such severe negative thoughts that they begin to think suicidal thoughts. This condition is usually not something that one can tackle on their own. It often requires the help of trained professionals and possibly medications or other types of therapy. Depression may require long-term treatment. The good news is that many people with depression usually begin to feel better with the help of psychological counseling, medication, or both.

Some people may only experience depression at one time in their life. However, others may experience the condition a number of times throughout their life. There are a number of signs and symptoms that are associated with depression. It is important to recognize them and get help as soon as you begin to feel any of these symptoms. People suffering from depression tend to experience these symptoms most of the day, nearly every day.

The signs and symptoms of depression may include feelings of sadness, crying for what seems like no reason, feeling empty or hopeless, anger, irritability or frustration , loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or sleeping too much, tiredness and lack of energy, changes in appetite (usually a reduced appetite and weight loss, but increased cravings for food and weight gain), anxiety, agitation or restlessness, slowed thinking, speaking or body movements, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself for things that aren't your responsibility, trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things, frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide, or unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches.