• Persistent depressed mood, including feelings of sadness or emptiness
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Crying easily or crying for no reason at all
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
• Feeling numb emotionally, perhaps even to the point of not being able to cry
• Problems sleeping, especially in the early morning, or wanting to sleep all of the time or "hide under the covers"
• Change in appetite, leading to weight gain or loss
• Decreased energy, fatigue, a sense of being "slowed down"
• Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
• Restlessness, irritability, unprovoked anger or anger that is out of proportion to the cause
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Persistent physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive disorders, or chronic pain, that do not respond to medical treatment and for which no physical cause can be found

If you resemble these descriptions, you might want to contact us for a professional evaluation and to look at treatment options. Or you may want to answer the questions found in the screening inventory. This depression screening inventory is not a validated psychological instrument but it can give you an idea of the extent and severity of your depression.