Depression is an illness many of us do not realise we have or some of us think we have depression just because we feel fed up over something. Depression takes over your whole life even though much in your life is perfect and it can happen unexpectedly at any time. It is a powerful feeling of depression which goes on for weeks. months or years, very unlike the short bouts of unhappiness that most of us feel from time to time.

The symptoms are: loss of interest in life in general, can't cope or make decisions, constantly tired and restless, loss of appetite and weight loss or gain, unable to sleep properly, lack of interest in sex, lack of self confidence and feel useless and inadequate, avoid people and contemplate suicide.

If you have some of these symptoms you could be depressed. Sometimes we think the feelings are normal because they have been with us for so long and we need other people to tell us that we need to seek help.

It's normal to feel low or down at some point in a persons life. Depression however is a totally different matter, as it is an illness which affects the whole of a person, in other words the mood, thoughts and body. It influences everything from the way a person eats and sleeps to the way that they feel about themselves and think about things.

Depression or depressive disorder is very different from a simple feeling of being low. It is not a sign that a person has a weak character or a condition that can simply be wished away. People with this disorder can't just snap out of it and feel brighter. When someone has depressive disorder and they do not look for suitable treatment, their symptoms can last for weeks, months, or sometimes even years. Obtaining the appropriate treatment for depressive disorder can help most of the people who suffer from depression.

* Affects in Thinking When it comes to thinking, a person could have problems with focus and decision making. Other people may find that they have problems with their short term memory and seem to forget things all the time. Depression is mainly characterized by feeling pessimistic, feeling guilty, thinking negative thoughts, self-criticism and low self-esteem. When a person's depression is more severe, they may experience self destructive thoughts.

* Affects in Feelings An individual might have feelings of sadness for no reason and might even find they no longer enjoy the things that they once enjoyed doing the most. It is quite common to become apathetic, lack motivation, feel tired or slowed down all the time and even have trouble controlling their temper.

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