Do you have trouble doing everyday activities? Is it hard to get out of bed in the morning? Do you often feel like you are living in a dark cloud? Do you find yourself crying more often than you used to?
Sadness is a normal reaction to difficult situations. Feeling sad from time to time is just another part of being human. Feelings of sadness go away quickly and you can go about your daily life. You might be ‘feeling low,’ ‘feeling down,’ or ‘feeling blue.’ If it goes away on its own and doesn’t impact your life in a big way, it probably isn’t the illness of depression.
Depression is an illness that affects your mood, the way you understand yourself, and the way you understand and relate to things around you. Depression can come up for no reason, and it usually lasts for a long time. It’s much more than sadness or low mood.There are usually physical signs of depression, such as problems with sleep, appetite and energy and unexplainable aches or pains. Some people may experience difficult thoughts about death or ending their life (suicide). Depression lasts longer than two weeks, doesn’t usually go away on its own, and impacts your life. It’s a real illness, and it is very treatable. It’s important to seek help if you’re concerned about depression.
Emotional symptoms of Depression:
- Sadness
- Guilt
- Exhaustion
- Irritability
- Worthlessness
- Anger
- Hopelessness
- Apathy
. Some effective complementary ways of treating depression, include:
- Talk therapy
- Medication
- Adopting a healthier lifestyle