Here is some info. Do a search on any search engine under depression adn you'll get tons of info. My H had depression AND midlife crisis. Boy wasn't that a fun package! My H was able to sleep 12 hours, be up for 2 hours and be ready to take a nap. Said he would have slept 24 hours a day if he could have. Told me he felt empty, nothing made him happy anymore, he was numb etc. He also had a lot of stomach problems. He told me all these things when he announced he wanted out of the marraige. I said "those are symptoms of depression." He said "No they aren't. I'll feel fine when I can do whatever I want to." It took him 4 months to acknowledge that he was depressed. <P><<<WHAT IS A DEPRESSIVE DISORDER? Index <BR>A depressive disorder is a "whole-body" illness, involving your body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you think about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression. <BR> <BR>TYPES OF DEPRESSION <BR>Depressive disorders come in different forms, just as do other illnesses, such as heart disease. This outline briefly describes three of the most prevalent types of depressive disorders. However, within these types there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity, and persistence. <BR>Major depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms (see symptom list) that interfere with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. These disabling episodes of depression can occur once, twice, or several times in a lifetime. <BR>A less severe type of depression, dysthymia, involves long- term, chronic symptoms that do not disable, but keep you from functioning at "full steam" or from feeling good. Sometimes people with dysthymia also experience major depressive episodes. <BR>Another type is bipolar disorder, formerly called manic- depressive illness. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder involves cycles of depression and elation or mania. Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual. When in the depressed cycle, you can have any or all of the symptoms of a depressive disorder. When in the manic cycle, any or all symptoms listed under mania may be experienced. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems and embarrassment. For example, unwise business or financial decisions may be made when an individual is in a manic phase. Bipolar disorder is often a chronic recurring condition. <P>SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND MANIA Index <BR>Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some many. Also, severity of symptoms varies with individuals. <BR>DEPRESSION <BR>* Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood <BR>* Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism <BR>* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness <BR>* Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex <BR>* Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping <BR>* Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain <BR>* Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down" <BR>* Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts <BR>* Restlessness, irritability <BR>* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions <BR>* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
