Depression is more than just feeling sad – it’s a long-lasting low mood condition that makes everyday life hard to manage. Let’s look at the symptoms:

Emotional symptoms relate to how you feel:

Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure, irritability or frustration, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, frequent crying or emotional numbness.

Cognitive symptoms affect thinking patterns and mental processes:

Difficulty concentrating or making decisions, negative thinking (e.g., “I’m a failure”), pessimism about the future, recurrent thoughts of death or suicide, memory problems or slowed thinking.

Physical (Somatic) symptoms involve the body:

Fatigue or low energy, changes in sleep, appetite or weight changes, slowed movements or speech or restlessness, unexplained aches and pains (e.g., headaches or stomach issues).

The main differences between mild, moderate, and severe depression lie in the number of symptoms you experience, how intense you experience emotions, and how much the feeling of depression affects your daily function.

• Mild depression: It can be distressing but manageable. You might feel “off” or lose interest in hobbies, but you can usually “push through” and keep up with your routine, even if it requires more effort than usual.
• Moderate depression: It often leads to a decline in self-esteem and noticeable problems in relationships or job performance. People with moderate depression are more likely to experience physical (“somatic”) symptoms like disrupted sleep and weight changes.
• Severe depression: This is a serious medical condition where symptoms are unmanageable and overwhelming. It may include “non-somatic” symptoms such as deep feelings of worthlessness, thoughts of death, or even suicide.

Depression requires psychological treatment and/or medical treatment:

Medical Practitioners (Doctors, Psychiatrists, Social Workers and Psychologists) typically follow a “stepped care” model based on these levels:

• Mild: First-line treatments often include psychotherapy (talk therapy) and lifestyle adjustments (like exercise) rather than immediate medication.
• Moderate: Usually treated with a combination of therapy and medication for the best results.
• Severe: Often requires intensive combined treatment (therapy and medication) and may sometimes require hospitalisation.

If you’re struggling with depression, remember, you are not alone on this journey, and there are ways to find hope and positivity again. If you’re experiencing these symptoms and you need help, book an appointment with one of our psychologists by calling 014 590 1700.