Depression - the Human Condition

What is life but "a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away"...that is how I feel so often, like an insignificant puff of smoke. How many times I have wondered in all of the cosmos, what am I but a grain of sand in the grand design, and yet I feel more, I want more, I need more. We are not the designers, but the designed - can't you see that. We seek the great designer and we yearn to be complete by taking our rightful place in the proper order of the universe. Still, if you cannot understand that, then at least understand yourself and guard yourself from the reach of your loneliness.

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND MANIA

Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some many. Severity of symptoms varies with individuals and also varies over time.

Depression
· Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
· Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
· Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
· Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
· Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
· Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
· Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
· Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
· Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
· Restlessness, irritability
· Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

Mania
· Abnormal or excessive elation
· Unusual irritability
· Decreased need for sleep
· Grandiose notions
· Increased talking
· Racing thoughts
· Increased sexual desire
· Markedly increased energy
· Poor judgment
· Inappropriate social behavior