What is Depression?
Depression, also referred to as clinical or unipolar depression, is a state of mind or mood disorder which results in feelings of sadness and disinterest.
Throughout a lifetime virtually every person will experience feelings of sadness and unhappiness, but the feelings soon go away. With a clinically depressed person the sad feelings stay around for prolonged periods of time.
Symptoms of depression include:
- Change of appetite
- Sleep disturbance
- Less self-esteem
- General fatigue
- Lack of interest
- Feelings of guilt and anxiety
- Morbid or suicidal thoughts
- Drug or alcohol use/abuse
Factors that may contribute or aggravate depression include
- Hereditary predisposition
- Medications
- Medical conditions and chronic illness
- Life experiences
- Drug or alcohol use/abuse
- Psychological, physical or sexual abuse
- Childhood rejection, abandonment or neglect