Depression
What are the symptoms of depression?
Depression is characterized by depressed mood—feeling sad, blue, or down in the dumps. But depression is not simply a momentary period of feeling down or blue. Depression is an illness that affects not only mood but also body, behavior, and mind. Appetite and weight, sleep, concentration, decision making, energy level, and the level of interest in and pleasure derived from life activities can all be powerfully influenced by depression. This condition diminishes a person’s self-esteem and may cause the affected person to feel worthless, hopeless, and helpless.
The two hallmark symptoms of depression are:
- experiencing depressed mood: feeling sad, blue, or down
- experiencing decreased interest in or pleasure from life activities, including sex
In addition to one or both of the above, a depressed person may experience any of the following symptoms:
- losing a considerable amount of weight due to experiencing a sharp decrease in appetite without being on a diet
- gaining weight due to experiencing a sharp increase in appetite
- sleeping too little, trouble falling asleep, restless sleep, frequent waking, or early waking
- sleeping too much
- feeling restless, unable to sit still, or feeling slowed down
- feeling fatigued, low on energy, or tired all the time
- feeling worthless or guilty, with diminished self-esteem
- experiencing impaired concentration or difficulty making decisions
- experiencing recurrent thoughts of death in general or about one’s own death
- feeling hopeless and helpless
Depression may be of such severity that the affected person may not be able to function normally and optimally. Depression can negatively impact important roles that people fulfill: spouse, parent, or productive worker.
This year, 7% of Americans—more than 19 million people—will suffer from mood disorders, that is, mental disorders that include depression and mania. The economic cost of depression to the nation was estimated to range $30 to $44 billion in 1990. Depression affects not only those who are depressed, but also their families.
Fortunately, depression is a treatable illness. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that more than 80% of people with depression could be helped substantially by available medication and/or psychotherapy. Yet, two-thirds of depressed people do not seek treatment and, therefore, suffer depressive symptoms unnecessarily to the detriment of themselves, their families, and society.
