Depressive Disorder is a common illness that negatively affects how a person feels, thinks, and acts. Unlike typical feelings of sadness or a low mood, depression causes a person to experience feelings of emptiness, lethargy, and an inability to care, along with a wide range of other symptoms that vary depending on the individual’s psychological make-up. Depression can interfere with one’s ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy previously pleasurable activities. If left untreated, depression can persist for weeks, months, or even years and may be constant or recurring.
Depressive disorders can manifest in different forms, with variations in the number of symptoms as well as their severity and persistence.
Symptoms of Depression:
- Feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most activities once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite — reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain
- Difficulty sleeping or excessive sleeping
- Lack of energy or increased fatigue and tiredness
- Slowed thinking, movements, or speech observable by others
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions, or remembering
- Frequent thoughts of death or suicide