Depression is defined as a chronic mental illness. It may begin at any age, even in the teen years. It can run in families, and it typically interferes with the activities of daily living. The symptoms do not go away by themselves. According to the National Institutes of Health, 20 million Americans suffer from depression each year. Various treatments for depression include electroconvulsive therapy, medications, psychotherapy and vagal nerve stimulation.
Sadness, Anxiety and Emptiness
The person suffering from major depression, the Mayo Clinic reports, generally experiences the "down" feeling that most people do, but it may be more pronounced and it may continue for a long time. The depressive person may feel extremely sad. She may feel emptiness emotionally, and she may be anxious when there is no external cause for the condition. These feelings do not simply go away. Treatment, such as medications and psychotherapy, may be the answer for her. Sometimes getting to the bottom of of why she has these feelings may help.
Poor Self-Esteem
A sense of worthlessness, which causes the depressed person to feel bad about himself, may be addressed through counseling. If he can be taught how to see the good things that he does in his life, then the change may help ease depression symptoms. The feeling of being worthless can lead to drug and alcohol abuse, the Mayo Clinic reports.
Hopelessness
Most people at some time in their lives feel hopeless. For most people, this emotional problem goes away as their situation improves. The constant feeling of hopelessness, however, is considered to be clinically part of depression. Hopelessness to this degree does not go away, even if a person's circumstances get better. She may always feel a sense of hopelessness that permeates the rest of her daily living.
Problems Sleeping
Problems sleeping, such as insomnia or fitful sleep, occur when a depressed person is fearful and constantly obsessed with negative thoughts. It is difficult to sleep when there is so much worry and anxiety on the mind.
Suicidal Thoughts
The Mayo Clinic reports that a typical sign of major depression is thinking about death often. A person suffering from depression may simply focus on dying and death, but it can be more serious because she may also focus on killing herself and ways to do it. Depending on her personality, she may or may not express such thoughts to others. If she begins to cut herself off from relationships with friends and family members, and she already has major depression, intervention may be the key.
