Characteristics of Depression
Depression is more than just a low mood or a feeling of sadness. It effects a persons whole being: feelings, thoughts, behaviours and physical functioning. Not everyone experiences all the following characteristics, this is just a list of the most common signs of depression. Some of the characteristics may never appear at all while others may have a number of them and not be depressed.
Feelings
- Sadness, emptiness or despair much of the day, nearly every day.
- An inability to enjoy activities that normally give one pleasure.
- Feeling unusually anxious, angry of irritated.
- Extreme feelings of worthlessness, guilt or shame (not just guilt over being unwell)
Behaviour
- A tendency to do very little, since nothing seems enjoyable
- Withdrawal from social activities.
- Loss of appetite. Some people eat more, but usually not out of hunger or a desire for food.
- Speeding up or slowing down of physical movements (gestures, walking, speech, and so on) most of the day. Observable by others, not just a feeling of restlessness or being slowed down.
Physical
- Fatigue or loss of energy for most of the day
- Significant weight loss ( without dieting) or weight gain
- Insomnia: difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep, extended periods of wakefulness throughout the night, or waking very early and being unable to get back to sleep.
- Sometimes hypersomnia: sleeping much more than usual.
- Reduced sexual desire
- Headaches
- Digestive problems
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
Thoughts
- Difficulty concentrating
- Impaired memory
- Difficulty making decisions.
- A tendency to focus on the negative
- Thoughts of death or being better off dead, or hurting oneself
