Am I depressed or just unhappy? A difficult question you may think, but it is my opinion that a depressed person knows when they are depressed and a sad person knows when they are sad.

It is perfectly human to experience the feelings of sadness. There is not one person on this planet who will live their life and not experience sadness. Sadness is a natural reaction to a painful circumstance. Depression on the other hand is more extreme, a clinical illness which has many more symptoms than general sadness and can, if not treated lead to suicide.

A person experiencing feelings which upsets them can logically distinguish what it is that is causing the unhappiness. Whereas a person suffering depression can not necessarily do so. As a person suffering sadness would know, their feelings will begin to heal over a period of time, this person is dealing with their pain and know that it will get better over time. Whereas a person suffering depression tends to get worse and see that they are feeling sad more-or-less all the time with little or not let-up.

Depression can last for weeks, months and for some years. It is not something that a person can merely snap out of, much as they wish that they could it is impossible. The feelings involved are intense and overwhelming and believe me; no-one wants to be contemplating taking their own life.

Generally, if a person has had a loss of interest in life in their daily activities, job, relationship or socialising for more than approx 2 weeks and their mood is out of character for them, then the doctor could potentially diagnose depression.

Some of the main symptom of depression are:-

1. Tiredness/lethargy or inability to sleep (insomnia)
2. Loss of interest in social activities and sexual relations
3. Recurrent thoughts of death and/or suicide
4. Lack of self worth and inappropriate guilt
5. Significant weight changes
6. Inability to concentrate

Seeing your GP should be the first port of call, however screening tests are available and there are a range of them available on the internet.

Author reserves all rights to this work

(c) Samantha Weaver 2006