Depression

• Feelings of overwhelming sadness or fear, or the seeming inability to feel emotion.


• A decrease in the amount of pleasure derived from what were previously pleasurable activities.


• Changing appetite and marked weight gain or weight loss.


• Disturbed sleep patterns, such as insomnia or excessive sleep.


• Changes in activity levels, such as restlessness or a slowing of movement.


• Fatigue, both mental and physical.


• Feelings of guilt, helplessness, anxiety, and/or fear.


• A decrease in self-esteem.


• Trouble concentrating or making decisions.


• Self-harm or ruminating on self-harm.


• Ruminating on death and/or suicide.

While a depressed mood is usually seen as deleterious, it may have adaptive benefits. The loss of a loved spouse, child, friend or relation, a physical illness or loss of lifestyle, tends to lead to feelings of depression. The depressed mood is adaptive in that it leads the person towards altering their thought patterns and behavior or way of living or else continues until such a time as they do so. To recover from the depression it is necessary to find greater meaning of ones life often by embracing the parts of the mind not previously accepted. During this process changes in thinking and often lifestyle can be brought about, sometimes profound ones.