Major depression is a prolonged deep sensation of sadness or feeling 'down', blue, hopeless, helpless or worthless. The following are common symptoms associated with depression:

• Feelings of sadness, loneliness, hopelessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
• Changes in weight or appetite
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Feeling guilty or worthless
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering things or making decisions
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Restlessness or irritability
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Headaches, joint pain, back/shoulder pain, stomach pain/indigestion

Depression is NOT something you can just snap out of or get over. The first step is to understand facts about depression, and to understand that you are not alone. About one in six Americans experience an episode of depression at some time during his/her adult life.

Often, but not always, depression runs in families, and the course it takes is quite variable. Some people may only experience one significant depressive episode in their entire life, while others suffer with chronic depression which requires lifetime treatment.

The symptoms of depression are related to complex biochemical changes in the brain. Research evidence suggests that chemical messengers such as serotonin and norepinephrine lose their normal balance in areas of the brain that govern mood, pleasure, sleep, appetite and energy.

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