Depression comes in many different forms, from the mild feeling down to the more severe forms
which can be life threatening. Generally speaking if you feel down for two weeks or more then you
are likely to be clinically depressed, where you are likely to feel that everything is harder to do and
seemingly not worth the effort. Depression can come upon you without warning, you may feel
stupid for feeling the way you do, but something inside you is out of your control.
Statistically one in six become depressed, although this figure is being continually rounded up, as
it is becoming one of the, if not the biggest causes for days off work. One in twenty people are
Clinically Depressed, possibly more women than men but in reality men are just as likely to be
Depressed. It is fast becoming a lifestyle issue
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Iif you suffer from this form of depression it occurs usually in the autumn and winter when the days
Iif you suffer from this form of depression it occurs usually in the autumn and winter when the days
get darker . Depression is very common in the higher latitudes.
Postnatal depression
Postnatal depression is common for some it passes quickly for others it can become more
Postnatal depression is common for some it passes quickly for others it can become more
prolonged , onset may be just after birth but it can occur up to two years later.
Manic depression (bipolar disorder)
This condition appears to alternate between bouts of normality and intense activity. When this
This condition appears to alternate between bouts of normality and intense activity. When this
manic state occurs actions and activities are exaggerated.
The symptoms of depression are:
(If you admit to five or more of these symptoms then you are probably depressed,
Being restless and agitated -- waking up early -- having difficulty sleeping -- or sleeping more --
Feeling tired and lacking energy -- doing less and less -- using more tobacco, alcohol or other
drugs than usual -- not eating properly and losing or putting on weight -- crying a lot -- difficulty
remembering things -- physical aches and pains with no physical cause -- feeling low-spirited for
much of the time -- being unusually irritable or impatient -- getting no pleasure out of life or what you
usually enjoy -- losing interest in your sex life -- finding it hard to concentrate or make decisions --
blaming yourself and feeling unnecessarily guilty about things -- lacking self-confidence and self-
esteem, -- being pre-occupied with negative thoughts -- feeling numb, empty and despairing --
feeling helpless -- distancing yourself from others -- not asking for support -- taking a bleak, and
pessimistic view of the future --experiencing a sense of unreality -- self-harming (by cutting yourself,
for example) --thinking about suicide.
Depression in whatever form has a casual event, discover the cause and you remove
The depression for good.
