User:Anthonyhcole/Depression (mood)

Dorothea Lange's photograph Migrant Mother shows the despair of a woman trying to provide for her family during a time of economic hardship

Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity. A depressed person will experience or display some of the following: [1]

• Persistent sadness, anxiety or feelings of emptiness
• Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and/or pessimism.
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Contemplating suicide or suicide attempt
• Problems concentrating, remembering details and making decisions
• Fatigue and loss of energy
• Persistent aches, pains or digestive problems that are resistant to treatment
• Irritability or restlessness
• Insomnia, waking early, or excessive sleeping
• Overeating, or appetite loss
• Loss of interest in activities that once were pleasurable (e.g., hobbies, sex, social activities, etc.)

For a discussion of mental illnesses featuring depression, with links to articles on each type of depressive disorder, see Mood disorders.