What other problems might I notice if I'm depressed?

Besides the criteria listed above, you may experience some of the following problems if you are depressed:

• Criticizing, attacking, and berating yourself.
• Skipping days of work or not going to work.
• Inability to study or pursue serious intellectual or artistic interests.
• Loss of interest in sex.
• Avoiding friends or usual social activities, hobbies, or recreations.
• Inability to enjoy activities or events in which you normally take pleasure.
• Neglecting yourself physically (in terms of grooming and hygiene).
• Forgetfulness.
• Crying a lot or feel like crying without knowing why.
• Feeling irritable and getting into arguments easily.
• Increased and excessive use of alcohol or other recreational drugs.

One of the common symptoms of depression is a feeling of hopelessness. If you are seriously depressed, you may feel that it is impossible to get help and that you will never feel better. You may feel that you have always been in this mental state. This hopelessness can lead to failure to get help. If friends comment on your depression or suggest that you get professional help, take them seriously.

Major depression can be a dangerous disorder. You may neglect to take necessary medication for HIV or skip doctor's appointments. You may take risks sexually that would be unacceptable to you in a non-depressed period of time. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide.

If someone in your immediate family has had an episode of severe depression, studies indicate that you probably face an increased risk of developing this kind of depression.

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