Although a number of you may have already sought medical advice and have had the depressive illness diagnosed, some of you may still be trying to determine whether or not your loved one is depressed, or for that matter what depression is.

The first step in this process is some basic understanding of what depression is and how to recognise the symptoms.

Symptoms of Depression

1) Loss of interest or pleasure in all activities once enjoyed.

2) Changes in weight or appetite (either significant weight gain or weight loss).

3) Changes in sleeping patterns (restless sleep, unable to sleep, early morning wakening, sleeping too much, feeling more depressed in the morning).

4) Fatigue or loss of energy.

5) Feeling hopeless of worthless. Loss of self-confidence

6) Irrational thinking (beliefs not based on reality, pre-occupation with physical disease, constant feelings of inappropriate guilt).

7) Inability to concentrate, remember things, or make decisions

8) Ongoing thoughts of death and suicide (wishing to die, or attempts at suicide).

9) Loss of sexual drive

10) Feelings of sadness or irritability.

11) Restlessness or decreased activity, boredom.

Not all of these symptoms are necessary. However, if you observe four or more of these symptoms for a period of longer than two weeks you should seek professional help.

This chapter also outlines and explains some of what are recognised as: the known causes of depression. For example: hereditary, biochemical, psychological. Nobody knows the exact causes of depression. What does seem likely is that there is no single one cause, that the forces of both nature and nurture are in operation.