What is Depression?

Depression is one of the most common psychological problems, affecting nearly everyone in one way or another. Each year over 17 million American adults experience a period of clinical depression. It can interfere with normal functioning, and frequently causes problems with work, social, and family adjustment. It causes pain and suffering for those who have the disorder and those who care about them. Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the depressed person.

Depression is a psychological condition that changes how you think and feel, and affects your social behavior and sense of physical well-being. We have all felt sad at one time or another, tired from working hard, or discouraged when faced with serious problems. These feelings usually pass within a few days or weeks once we adjust to the stress. But if they linger, intensify, and begin to interfere with work, school, or family responsibilities, it may be depression.

Depression is a "whole-body" illness, involving your thinking, feeling, behavior, and physical well-being.

• Cognitive symptoms include feelings of futility, emptiness, hopelessness, profoundly pessimistic beliefs about the future, disinterest, decreased energy, and loss of motivation. Work responsibilities become monumental tasks and the person avoids them. Self-accusation of incompetence and general self-denigration are common, as are thoughts of suicide. Other symptoms include difficulty concentrating and making decisions. Some people report difficulty with short term memory, forgetting things all the time.

• Affective (emotional) symptoms include depressed mood, with feelings of sadness, dejection, and an excessive and prolonged mourning. Feelings of worthlessness and having lost the joy of living are common. Lack of motivation, apathy, and feeling "slowed down" and tired all the time are also frequent. Sometimes irritability and difficulty controlling one’s temper is a problem. In the extreme, depression is characterized by feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Anxiety frequently accompanies depression.

• Behavioral symptoms include social withdrawal, lowered work productivity, and neglect of household responsibilities. Because of chronic sadness, excessive crying is common. Some people complain about everything, and act out their anger with temper flare-ups. Sexual desire may disappear, resulting in lack of sexual activity. Some people even have trouble getting out of bed. Low energy is one of the dominant behavioral symptoms of depression. Other symptoms include sloppy or dirty clothing, unkempt hair, and lack of concern for personal cleanliness. A dull, mask-like facial expression may become characteristic. The person tends to move slowly and does not initiate new activities. Speech is reduced and slow, and responses may be limited to short phrases. Although this psychomotor retardation is typical, some people suffer from an agitated state and symptoms of restlessness.

• Physiological symptoms include loss of appetite and weight or increased appetite and weight, constipation, chronic fatigue, and sleep disturbances, including insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, waking up early, waking frequently during the night, and nightmares. Some depressed people have hypersomnia or excessive sleep. Many complain of aches and pains.