Everyone feels down or sad from time to time, and these feelings usually pass within hours or days.
However, for a person who has depression, these feelings are intense and interfere with daily living. Unlike a case of the blues, depression often involves persistent feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and irritability. People with depression tend to lose interest in activities they used to enjoy, feel fatigued, have trouble concentrating, and have problems with sleep and appetite. Sometimes they even have thoughts of not wanting to live anymore.
With intervention, people can successfully recover from depression. If you or someone you know might be struggling with these kinds of feelings, please consider the Counseling Center as a resource. The following pages are intended to provide additional support and information.