depression-and-anxiety > depressed-mood-or-depression-

and individual differences. Common symptoms across all types of depression include:

Mood

feeling sad, moody or crap
feeling hopeless or helpless
feeling numb or empty
feeling anxious
feeling guilty and blaming yourself
unable to feel good or enjoy things that you do normally

Thinking

being overly self-critical
believing you can't cope and that things are out of your control
difficulty making decisions and thinking clearly
poor concentrating and memory
thinking about suicide or ending your life

Behaviour

lack of motivation and energy
crying a lot
Losing interest in activities you usually enjoy
Withdrawing from your friends and family or being more dependent on them
Increased use of alcohol or other drugs
Losing your temper more than usual

Physical

Loss of appetite or over-eating
Changes in sleep patterns - difficulty getting to sleep, waking up in the middle of the night or sleeping for longer
Headaches or stomach aches
Feeling physically sick
Lack of interest in sex

Everyone experiences some of these feelings or behaviours from time to time. However, for people experiencing depression the feelings might be more severe and they do not go away over time. If you are concerned that you are experiencing depression it is a good idea to see your local doctor or a psychologist. They should be able to help you make a diagnosis and provide you with the support for managing your depression.

(published with permission in writing from:http://www.reachout.com.au/)