Beauty

Recognizing signs of depression

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Depression: are you at risk?
Find out if your case of the blues is just a passing mood, or a sign of something more serious

Major depression can occur in 10 to 25 per cent of women – sometimes it’s short-term, sometimes it’s chronic. Clinical depression is more than just unhappiness – it’s a complex mood disorder that can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic predisposition, personality, stress levels and brain chemistry. The good news is that you can always get help.

If you suffer from one or more of the following symptoms, you may be suffering from depression.

  1. Feelings of sadness almost every day, that last most of the day
  2. Feelings of sadness that last more than two weeks
  3. Inability to fully function at work, at school or socially
  4. Changes in appetite and/or weight
  5. Trouble sleeping/sleeping too much
  6. Loss of interest in friends, family, school, work and sex
  7. Withdrawal from family and friends
  8. Feeling useless, hopeless, guilty, pessimistic or down on yourself
  9. Feeling agitated or slowed down
  10. Trouble concentrating and making decisions
  11. Crying easily, or feeling like crying but not being able to
  12. Having suicidal thoughts

For more information, check out our article Shades of Blue: Got the blahs or is it something more?

Also, visit the Canada Health Portal and the Mood Disorders Association of Canada websites.