What is Depression?

Jul 29, 2008

[source: Mental Health First Aid handbook, Melbourne Uni]

the word "depression" is used in many different ways. everyone can feel sad or blue when bad things happen. however, everyday 'blues' or sadness is not depression. people with the 'blues' may have a short-term depressed mood, but they can manage to cope and soon recover without treatment. Clinical depression which lasts for at least 2 weeks and affects one's ability to carry out their work or to have satisfying personal relationships.

Symtoms, if person is experiencing clinical depression, at least 2 of the following:

- an unusually sad mood that does not go away

- loss of employment and interest in activities that used to be enjoyable

- lack of energy and tiredness

People who are depressed have other symtopms such as:

- loss of confidence in themselves or poor self- esteem

- feeling guilty when they are not really at fault

- wishing they were dead

- difficulty concentrating or making decisions

- moving more slowly or, sometimes, becoming agitated and unable to settle

- having sleeping difficulties or, sometimes, sleeping too much

- loss of interest in food or, sometimes, eating too much. Changes in eating habits may lead to either loss of weight or puting on weight.

Not every person who is depressed has all these symptoms. People who are more severly depressed will have more symtopms than who who are mildly depressed.

Mild Depression - 4 of the 10 symtopms over the past 2 weeks

Moderate depression - 6 of the 10 symptopms over the past 2 weeks

Severe depression - 8 of the 10 symptooms over the 2 weeks.

Symptoms:

Emotions - sadness, anxiety, guilt, anger, mood swings, lack of emotional responsiveness, helplessness, hopelessness

Thoughts - frequent self - criticism, self-blame, worry, pessimism, impaired memory and concentration, indeciveness and confusion, tendency to believe others see you in a negative light, thought of death and suicide.

Behaviour - crying spells, withdrawal from others, neglect of responsibilities, loss of interest in personal appearance, loss of motivation, drugs and alcohol

Physical - cronic fatigue, lack of energy, sleeping too much or too little, overeating ro loss of appetite, constipation, weight loss or gain, irregular menstrual cycle, loss of sexual desire, unexplained aches and pains.