What should I know about depression extreme sadness or feeling nothing at all

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Some people call depression ‘heaviness of heart’ or ‘loss of spirit or soul’.

It is natural for a person to feel depressed when she experiences a loss or death. But she may have a mental health problem if the signs below last for a long time.

Signs:

• feeling sad most of the time
• difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• difficulty thinking clearly
• loss of interest in pleasurable activities, eating, or sex
• physical problems, such as headaches or intestinal problems, that are not caused by illness
• slow speech and movement
• lack of energy for daily activities
• thinking about death or suicide

Serious depression can lead to suicide (killing oneself). Almost everyone has thoughts of suicide once in a while. But if these thoughts come more and more often or get very strong, a woman needs help right away.

Sources

• Burns, A. A., Niemann, S., Lovich, R., Maxwell, J., & Shapiro, K. (2014). Where women have no doctor: A health guide for women. Hesperian Foundation.
• Audiopedia ID: en011508