Depression is also a common mental health condition, affecting between 5-9% of the general population at any one point of life.
Symptoms of depression are:
- Low mood/ sadness
- Significantly reduced interest or pleasure in almost all activities.
- Significant weight loss or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite.
- A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt with no apparent reasons
- Diminished ability to concentrate, or indecisiveness
- Recurrent thoughts of death
When these symptoms cause persons impairment at work, studies, social and other functioning, it is said that criteria for depression are met****. Yet, for more accurate assessment, please contact me or your family doctor.
Even celebrities and most successful persons have gone through depression once or a multiple times in their lives; Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill, Beethoven , Sarah McLachlan and so on. The hope is there in knowing that depression does not destroy the person who suffers from it. A famous philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsch, suffered from depression and he left with his unforgettable statement, “what does not kill me makes me stronger“. Obstacles, losses, illnesses and many failing experiences of life are there for persons to dig deeper to find one’s undeniable strengths to overcome obstacles, and transform oneself to become even stronger and face life with courage, wisdom and more satisfying life adjustment.
**** Criteria for depression from DSM 5 (American Psychiatric Association)