Depression is more than just feeling sad or going through a rough patch- it is a pervasive state of hopelessness and lack of energy that can last for weeks, months, or even longer.  Common symptoms include:

1. Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness.

2. Loss of interest in activities that used to bring joy.

3. Low energy, fatigue, or feeling "weighed down".

4. Difficulty concentrating , making decisions, or remembering things.

5. Changes in appetite or sleep patterns (either too much or too little).

6. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt or shame

7. Thoughts of suicide or death  

Depression commonly also manifests physically, through symptoms such as stomach pains, headaches, and motor control difficulty etc. While the causes of depression are unknown, a predisposition for it runs in families and it can be triggered by trauma and adverse life circumstances. Depression is diagnosed more frequently in women and tends to display differently in women than in men.

People tend to suffer higher rates of depression after giving birth and in late fall. Depression and anxiety often exacerbate each other. Some people abuse alcohol and drugs or overeat as a way of coping, causing them to develop other medical problems. Depressed people are also at increased risk for self-harm.

Depression affects how you think, feel, and function in daily life.  It can make even the simplest tasks feel exhausting and meaningless, and it often isolates people from the support they need.

Diagnosing depression involves a psychiatric evaluation and physical tests to determine whether a person’s symptoms are actually being caused by a different disorder. A person must have been experiencing symptoms for at least two weeks to be diagnosed with depression. Every case is unique and requires individual attention, but there are a number of effective complementary ways of treating depression, including:

• Talk therapy

• Medication

• Adopting a healthier lifestyle