How depressed are you?

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All of us feel blue, low or out of sorts every now and again. We may even say we’re ‘feeling depressed’. But true depression is more than simply being down in the dumps. But how can you tell the difference? The following lists have been adapted from The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).

Moderate depression

  • Being bothered by things that aren’t usually a problem
  • Poor appetite
  • Overeating
  • Feelings of inadequacy
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Finding doing things an effort
  • Fearful of the future
  • Restless sleep
  • Feeling people are unfriendly
  • Loneliness
  • Increased irritability
  • Persistently feeling blue

Severe depression

  • Tearfulness
  • Getting no pleasure at all from life
  • Persistent fatigue and exhaustion
  • Unreasonably low self-esteem
  • High anxiety levels
  • Lack of interest in sex
  • Poor concentration
  • Memory losses
  • Lack of motivation
  • Feeling a burden to others
  • Early-morning waking
  • Persistent sleeping
  • Fear of being alone/extreme self-isolation
  • Unexplained physical aches and pains
  • Suicidal thoughts

If you have ticked at least five of these symptoms, then you may qualify as being depressed.

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