What does depression feel like?

Sam, a second grader, wasn’t feeling like himself. His mom and dad were worried because he was no longer interested in kite flying, something he had really enjoyed for a long time. Sam also tried to stay home from school. He didn’t even want to go to his best friend’s birthday party. Sometimes Sam wouldn’t go to sleep at night, and he wasn’t interested in eating any of his favorite foods. His parents worried about how sad he always seemed. After a few months of worry, his parents decided to take Sam to a family counselor.

Today, Sam is much happier. His parents were happy to see him return to his “old self.” Sam was diagnosed with depression. His parents and his counselor were able to choose a treatment plan that allowed Sam to feel better. Depression is a real emotional disturbance; a person can’t simply make himself or herself feel better. Depression is not necessarily caused by something bad that happens, rather, it is caused by multiple factors. Depression can last months or years if left untreated.

Some symptoms of depression include:

• Feelings of hopelessness, negativity, and pessimism Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
• Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
• Sleep disturbances such as insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
• Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
• Restlessness, irritability
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

Depression does not go away by itself; however, almost all people with depression can overcome it with the proper treatment.