Characteristics of Depression

Depression is a mental condition characterized by a sense of pessimism, inadequacy and a despondent reduction in activity. It wreaks havoc on a person's mental, physical and emotional state of being. Unfortunately, depressed persons are often described as simply having an abundance of sad or blue feelings. In reality there are a number of commonly overlooked characteristics of depression that go beyond these simple feelings, illustrating why depression is not just a state of mind but a clinical psychological problem.

Psychological Characteristics

• Depression is associated with a number of psychological characteristics that, by their very nature, often remain concealed to observers though they constantly affect the depressed individual. Such characteristics include overwhelming feelings of sadness, helplessness, remorse, guilt and contemptibility. Depressed persons also find it difficult to focus and may be unable to concentrate altogether, which can reduce their capacity to respond to stress appropriately.

Physical Characteristics

• Although depression is typified as a mental condition, it manifests itself physically through several noticeable conditions. Loss of energy (fatigue, lethargy, restlessness, weakness) is a common condition that is characteristic of depression. Complications with sleep---insomnia, increased or decreased sleep, abnormal sleep schedule---are also physical characteristics associated with depression.

Deficient Responsibilities

• Neglecting one's personal obligations and responsibilities (to oneself and others) is a typical characteristic of those who suffer from depression. The physical manifestations of depression, such as fatigue, is commonly touted as the reason for unfulfilled responsibilities; so are the number of unexplained pains and body aches depressed persons attribute to their functional inabilities.

Employment Difficulties

• Another noticeable characteristic of depression is its ability to impede a person's workplace activities and performance. Absenteeism is frequently associated with bouts of depression, as are work-related accidents and safety hazards. Since depressed individuals often feel tired and weak, depression can also negatively interfere with a person's productivity, decreasing both the quality of performance and the quantity of assigned tasks.

Estrangement and Dissociation

• As explained by James P. McCullough, author of Treatment for Chronic Depression, depression is a condition characterized by disappointment. Feelings of disappointment contribute to this characterization, but so do the behavioral patterns that develop in the attempt to avoid such disappointment. A depressed individual---particularly if the person has been depressed for some time he explains‚---habitually interacts with others in a way that protects him/her from disappointment. As a result, dissociation from social settings and estrangement from personal "unsatisfying" relationships becomes a common characteristic for persons with depression.