Major Depressive Disorder

Most people understand feelings of depression or profound sadness that result from negative life events, such as the death of a loved one, loss of a job, or the emotional pain following the end of a close relationship. A person struggling with Major Depressive Disorder may feel depressed for no apparent reason or unable to recover from a negative life event. Feelings of hopelessness, lack of self-worth, and even self-hatred can lead to a sense of entrapment where reaching life goals or escaping from a bad situation seems impossible. The following symptoms can be indicative of Major Depressive Disorder:

• Depressed mood most of the day for most days
• Increased need for sleep or insomnia
• Fatigue and loss of motivation
• Difficulty with focus and decision-making
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Significant and unintentional weight loss or weight gain
• Hopelessness
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation