First Person Description of Major Depression
It takes the greatest effort to get out of bed in the morning.
I am tired all day, yet when night comes, sleep evades me.
I stare at the ceiling, wondering what has happened to my
life, and what will become of me. Nothing is getting done
at work. I have projects to complete, but I can’t think. I try
to focus on my work, and I get lost. I keep wondering when
the boss will discover how little I have accomplished. My wife
does not understand. She keeps telling me to “snap out of it.”
I’m irritable all the time, and yell at the kids, then I feel
terrible later. Nothing is fun any more. I can’t read, and the
music I used to enjoy so much does nothing for me. I am bored,
but I feel like doing nothing. There are times, when I’m alone,
that I think that life is hopeless and meaningless, and I can’t
go on much longer.
Sleep problems, difficulty with concentration, chronic fatigue, irritability, feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities - the list of symptoms does not convey the despair of depression. When you feel lost, hopeless, and don’t know what to do, you might be depressed. Even if you have just a few of the symptoms of depression, talk to someone who can help, consult with a psychologist, and find out what can be done to help you change!
Revision date: July 9, 2011
Last revised: by Dave R. Roger, M.D.