Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
What is the difference between sadness and clinical depression?
I've always felt sad often for as long as I remember, but this year it has been much more extreme.
There have been no major events to trigger it but I've been going through weeks of being extremely sad and withdrawn.
I will stop talking to friends and going out, sleep for as long as I can, start feeling anger and hatred towards people irrationally, and I have to consciously stop myself from thinking negative thoughts . I will have a conversation with someone, but as soon as it ends my mind immediately switches back to the bad aspects of my life.
I lost 25 kilos in 2011 but have suddenly put it all back on this year. I have a lot of trouble sleeping and constantly feel drowsy.
I've always had low-self esteem. I cannot get uni work done ever. I feel lonely a lot.
I turn to alcohol a lot as it makes me feel better for a while.
I thought it may be PMS but the timing doesn't fit.
Basically I'm not sure if it's just my personality and I'm trying to make symptoms fit, or if it could be an illness.
