Depression is a common experience. We have all felt “depressed” about a friend's cold shoulder, misunderstandings in our marriage, tussles with teenage children, sometimes we feel “down” for no reason at all. However, depression can become an illness when:

– the mood state is severe;

– it lasts for 2 weeks or more and;

– it interferes with our ability to function at home or at work.

Signs of a depression includes:

– lowered self-esteem (or self-worth);

– change in sleep patterns, that is, insomnia or broken sleep;

– changes in appetite or weight;

– less ability to control emotions such as pessimism, anger, guilt, irritability and anxiety;

– varying emotions throughout the day, for example, feeling worse in the morning and better as the day progresses;

– reduces capacity to experience pleasure: you cannot enjoy what's happening now, nor look forward to anything with pleasure;

– hobbies and interests drop off;

– reduces pain tolerance: you are less able to tolerate aches and pains and may have a host of new ailments;

– changes sex drive: absent or reduced;

– poor concentration and memory: some people are so impaired that they think that they are becoming demented;

– reduces motivation; it does not seem worth the effort to do anything, things seem meaningless;

– lowers energy levels.

At the Institute, we believe that personality and temperament contribute to depression, particularly non-melancholic depression. Certain personality types are more at risk of developing depression than others.

Generally speaking, someone who is depressed would: have a low mood, be pessimistic, have lowered self-esteem and feel hopeless and helpless.