Depression is a mental disorder that affects a person’s mood, thoughts, and behavior. Depression is not simply being sad; sadness is just a symptom. It is a serious medical condition that can significantly interfere with a person’s daily life. Depression is often associated with other mental disorders, such as anxiety or substance abuse. Some of the common symptoms of depression include:

• Hopelessness or emptiness “I’m never going to get better. I’ll never be the same again”.
• Irritability
• Anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were previously rewarding)
• Fatigue, lack of energy or lack of motivation
• Decrease or increase in appetite
• Sleep problems (or oversleeping)
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Psychomotor retardation (slowness)
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and loneliness “No one understands me, I’m a burden”
• Social isolation
• Thoughts about death or suicide attempts “My life has no meaning”