The experience of depression may be very different from one person to the next, depending on the type of depression the person has, and their personality and coping styles.
Many of the signs of depression would be clearly evident in a person who has depression. Others may not be, as depression can often lead the person to withdraw from social contact or to hide their real feelings from those around them.
Generally speaking, someone who is depressed would have a low mood, they would be pessimistic, have a lowered self-esteem, feel hopeless and helpless. They may want to walk away from things, for example, their job or a difficult marriage. In some types of depression, individuals may physically slow down (walking and talking more slowly), or, on the other hand, become agitated and unable to sit still. They may find it difficult to get up in the morning or initiate even basic activities like showering or dressing. People with non-melancholic depression can sometimes be cheered up on occasions, for example by a pleasant event, or with support from a friend.
Personality styles also play a part in the effect of depression. Some people will fail to see their strengths and focus on their failings, believing they are less competent than they really are, and sinking lower into depression, while others may become angry and irritable with those around them.
Behaviour may also be affected by an individual's coping style. For instance, some people would indulge more than usual in "junk food" or in material possessions, while others may turn to friends for support or seek professional help. A desire to escape the despair may cause some individuals to use drugs and/or alcohol, or even to have thoughts of suicide.
Talk of suicide should be taken seriously and treatment should be sought immediately, preferably from a mental health professional or other appropriate person. (See Getting Help and Emergency Help).
There are a number of published personal accounts of the experience of depression. William Styron's Darkness Visible is a particularly vivid account. Lewis Wolpert's Malignant Sadness: The Anatomy of Depression both describes the experience and discusses possible explanations of how depression occurs.
Page last updated: 23-Apr-2008
Depression and Bipolar Disorder Information Australia - Black Dog Institute.
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