by Laura Lytton

Created on: July 13, 2007

The symptoms of depression are many and varied but they can be characterized by a general lowering of a persons energy levels; perhaps weight loss or gain; a reduction in libido; change in appetite and usually early morning wakening. Depression is a deep feeling of unhappiness and discontentment usually unwarranted. It can affect an individual on an emotional, physical and intellectual level. As a result, feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and failure are experienced with the individual unable to carry out daily tasks and functions. There is a tendency to catastrophise: to exaggerate any errors made. In extreme cases individuals require help with the most basic of tasks such as washing or feeding their condition makes the effort of daily tasks seem insurmountable.

As a therapist I know that emotional and mental health is best viewed along a continuum, with healthy functioning and balance down one end and extreme depression and mental breakdown on the other. As human beings we all travel along this continuum as we go through life. The fluctuations are accounted for by changes in circumstances and life experiences (as well as illness). So, from time to time we all get depressed. We react to changing circumstances and our mood and emotional functioning responds accordingly. A depressed mood brought about by factors which are outside of our control: bereavement, job loss etc., is termed reactive depression. In this case we are reacting to circumstances and usually after a period of adjustment the balance is restored and we feel better. However, clinical depression can also be brought about by reacting to life events, particularly when they are experienced in succession and it is usual for the individual not to recover from difficult periods in life and for their depressed state to continue for protracted period of time. As the feelings of depression continue the overall decline intensifies.

Whilst I would never recommend self-diagnosis, below you will find a list of symptoms which may be present:

- depressed mood for an extended period (e.g. over 2 weeks)
- loss of interest in life and reduction in pleasure
- loss of confidence and self-belief
- experiencing guilt and self-reproach
- sometimes thoughts of death or suicide
- lack of concentration and inability to make decisions
- tiredness and lack of energy
- irritability
- sleep disturbances
- weight change

As a guide, mild depression will be experienced by the following:

- feeling fed up generally
- irritable
- anxious
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