Different people express sadness in different ways. What may signify depression in one person may be just a sign of being "blue" in another.

True Depression - the definition

The American Psychiatric Association has outlined a definition of true depression.  According to the Association you have major depression if, for at least two consecutive weeks, you have persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety or "emptiness"; loss of interest or pleasure in normal everyday activities- this includes sex; and five or more of the symptoms in the following list:

• Having a hard time concentrating, making decisions and thinking
• Thoughts of suicide or attempts at suicide
• Sleeping difficulties: insomnia or wanting to sleep all the time- too much sleeping
• You feel you don't have energy, constantly feeling tired feeling restless and irritable
• Changes in appetite- eating too much ( gaining weight) or too little weight loss)
• Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or inappropriate guilt
• The National Institute of Mental Health includes the following to the above symptoms:
  • Excessive crying
  • Chronic aches and pains that don't get better with treatment
    web site for The National Institute of Mental Health

"clues" of depression

Here are some other signs and symptoms that may indicate that you are suffering from depression.  These should be viewed as "clues" and not definite symptoms of depression:

1. Feeling pessimistic about your life
2. Feeling indifferent about life- not caring about it
3. Avoiding old friends and crowds and seemingly not able to get along with others
4. Poor memory
5. Decrease in job and/or school performance
6. Having unexplained backaches, stomach aches, and headaches
7. Spending inappropriate amounts of time thinking about your own death- planning/thinking about your funeral etc...

St. John’s Wort
Something To Be Cheerful About!
by Ruby Banyan
Statistics show that 17 million Americans suffer from depression, more than half of whom shy away from seeking professional help. It’s no wonder that when books and television interviews endorsed an over the counter mood-elevating herb, the public responded enthusiastically. Doctors in Europe have long prescribed St. John Wort to patients suffering from depression. Find out more.

Bipolar Disorder in Children
Who has it and what you can do
By Martha Hellander, J.D.
Bipolar disorder (also known as "bipolar illness" or "manic-depressive illness") is a treatable neurobiological brain disorder believed to occur in at least 1-2 percent of the adolescent and adult population. As many as one million or more children under 18 in the U.S. may have bipolar disorder (mostly undiagnosed and untreated). Children with bipolar disorder are at risk for school failure, substance abuse, and suicide. Children as young as 3 may talk of wanting to "make myself dead." What are the signs and symptoms of this problem and what can you do about it? Find out more.

more dieting books
more Healthy Living Books
Holistic & Natural Medicine
Aromatherapy
Depression

more Personal Health Books
HotFlash Meno Support

Potatoes Not Prozac:
A Natural Seven-Step Dietary Plan to Control Your Cravings and Lose Weight, Recognize How Foods Affect the Way You Feel
by Kathleen DesMaisons, Kathleen, Ph. D. Des Maisons, kathle Desmaison, Candace B. Pert

Addressing the millions of Americans who suffer from genetic sugar-sensitivity, this book presents a practical and workable eating program that uses everyday foods--with an emphasis on complex carbohydrates and vegetables--to balance blood sugars and ease depression National print ads. National author publicity. 5-city tour. 25-market national radio satellite tour.