Symptoms of Depression

People experiencing depression may experience a change in the way they feel (emotional symptoms) in what they do (behavioural symptoms) or how they physically feel (physical symptoms).

Emotional Symptoms

• Feeling sad. When we feel depressed the overwhelming emotion we feel is that of sadness. People report that they are more tearfully.
• Feeling hopeless. When depressed it feels as if we have little control over any aspect of our lives, we no longer feel as if we are the master of our own destinies.
• Feeling guilty or worthless. When depressed we tend to experience these feelings to a much greater degree and in inappropriate situations. We may feel guilty for things that aren't our fault or that we have no control over.

Behavioural Symptoms

• Increased irritability. When depressed we experience more feelings of short-temperedness or irritability, small inconveniencies or life’s hassles affect us to a much greater degree than they tend to when we our feeling well.
• Loss of interest in pleasurable activities. When depressed we often "can't be bothered" with things that once we enjoyed doing. We may no longer be bothered with hobbies or friends.
• Trouble making decisions. When depressed it can seem more difficult to think clearly or logically and making decision s can seem much more difficult. Often making a simple choice can seem overwhelming and beyond our abilities when feeling depressed.

Physical Symptoms

• Change in appetite or weight. Often people with depression report that they lose their appetite and over time may lose weight. Other people however report that they crave certain foods and consequently gain weight.
• Change in sleeping pattern. Many people with depression report that they don’t sleep as well as they once did. They report that they don’t get as many hours sleep or that the quality of the sleep they do get is less good. They wake up too early or can't fall asleep when they go to bed. Other people experiencing depression however report that they sleep much more than normal.
• Lethargy and tiredness. People experiencing depression often find that no matter how much they manage to sleep they still feel tired or exhausted during the day. They can feel so tired they feel they have little energy to do everyday tasks either at work or at home.