Depression

Depression is a state that affects mind, emotion and body, creating a dysphoric mood, lethargy or anxiety in the body, and thoughts of hopelessness, helplessness and, in a significant number of cases, suicidal thoughts. Depression is a feeling of profound sadness, and/or poor self-image, and/or hopelessness and helplessness. It usually includes anhedonia and anergia (lack of pleasure and lack of energy), and may be irritable or agitated, meaning a dysphoric mood is present without lethargy. Depression should not be confused with normal grief in the aftermath of a major loss, although extended grief may lead to true depression. Depression that is mild and chronic, with fewer symptoms, is known as dysthymia. Depression may present differently based on age or cultural factors. Adolescents tend to show an irritable and agitated depression; older adults may or may not be irritable; certain cultural groups may mask their feeling to varying degrees; women are known to be more likely to admit to depression than men. Depression is one of the most common reasons people seek therapy.

• Body: Those experiencing depression may have great difficulty mustering the energy necessary for even the most basic tasks, such as getting out bed, preparing food, or bathing. Depression often includes intense, unrelievable fatigue. Depression may be somaticized, leading to complaints about back pain, muscle aches, nausea, and headaches. Depression may lead to sudden tearfulness without an apparent trigger.
• Mind: Depression always includes negative thoughts, sometimes with great severity. Individuals who are depressed may focus on thoughts like "I'm no good," "no one cares about me," "life is pointless," or "I'll never feel better." People with depression may have great guilt or shame, sometimes with an identifiable cause, sometimes not. Worries are frequently present. In the most severe cases, thinking may be minimal, and the person with depression may border on a comatose state. Suicidal thoughts are common.
• Emotions: Depression involves the emotions of sadness and grief, and often anger, fear, shame, and other negative emotions. Affect may be strong, with tearfulness, tension, and possibly anger may be present, or affect may be restricted and in severe cases, flat.