Depression is an illness that many people have heard of and think they know what it is, however that may not be the case at all as there are various types of depression. Because each person is different they might also have different symptoms when they are suffering from depression. To take steps toward conquering depression the person that is suffering from it needs to understand depression, what it is and how it affects them.

While it is not a difficult disease to understand being educated about it also helps the person to understand the type of depression they suffer from. There are different levels of depression and they can range from moderate to severe, severe depression is often referred to as a major depressive order, clinical depression or chronic depression.

Symptoms of severe depression

• Sadness that lasts through the day without lifting

• Feeling worthless or hopeless, feeling helpless or guilty.

• There can be a feeling of fatigue or having no energy, or being restless

• There can also be a sleeping disorder such as the loss of sleep, which is insomnia, or sleeping too, much which is hypomina.

• Being unable to concentrate

• Both weight gain or loss it can also be associated with some eating disorders.

• Closing ones self off from friends and others.

• Low self confidence and self esteem

• Having negative thoughts, that persist daily

• Suicidal tendencies or thoughts

• Becoming angered or irritated without reason

• A decreased interest in activities

• Becoming defensive about the lack of interaction with others or activities

• There can also be physical conditions such as chronic pain; chest or stomach pain as well as headaches is common.

Their physician should diagnose a person suffering from these symptoms so they can begin treatment, as this is not a form of depression that can be self-treated. People that are affected with a mild form of depression can have other symptoms that are not as severe as the symptoms of the chronic depression patient. These symptoms can be:

• Feeling of being alone
• Sadness
• Efficiency at work can decrease, however a normal pace can be kept up.
• There can be a slight change in behavior.
• Tiredness is also possible or there can be less sleep than usual
• Appetite can decrease
• There can be headaches or stomach pain

People that suffer from mild depression have often had an event in their life that upsets the balance and as they heal mentally from the even the depression will heal also.

Anyone that suffers from depression or what they believe to be depression should be diagnosed as it can be more than just a mild case of depression. There can be underlying reasons for the depression and they can have severe affects when untreated. Some of these can be Bipolar Disorder or depression, Psychotic Depression, reactive depression and other disorders.