What would you describe as "depressed"?!
Question:
What would you describe as "depressed"?
I want to see if I am.
Answers:
Depression has different appearance and categories. There are many different characteristics of depression, but let me outline a few:
Anhedonia (loss of pleasure in activities), sad or depressed mood, changes in appetite (loss or gain), sleep disturbance (insomnia or hypersomnia), feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, fatigue, suicidal ideation
These are a few, but there could be more that vary by person. Some depression is chronic and considered more mild (Dysthymia) while another is considered more acute and severe (Major Depression). Regardless of the duration, getting help can be hard. All of the symptoms I mentioned make it harder to function in daily living.
Treatments: therapy and medication. Medication consists of antidepressants (Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa) that take effect 3-4 weeks after beginning use. If you are not interested in medication, therapy has been empirically proved to alleviate depressive symptoms. You should look for a Cognitive Behavioral therapist in your area to address depression, if you think you are suffering from it. The best offense for depression is medication and counseling together, per research.