Prepare for a story that will change your outlook. Meet Melissa Drake, a 50-year-old author and consultant from Southern California. From the outside, her life seemed perfect. But inside, she was battling major depressive disorder since she was 20.
Drake describes depression as feeling like “everything and nothing at once.” It’s a struggle that’s often hard to understand for those who don’t experience it.
And she’s not alone. Many people share similar feelings, unable to explain why they feel depressed despite having no obvious reason. Major depression can feel like living under a cloud or walking through mud, explains Dr. Shawna Newman, a psychiatrist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.
So what are the symptoms of major depression?
It’s more than just feeling sad or blue. It’s a deep, lasting sadness, disinterest, sleep problems, changes in eating habits, lack of focus, changes in energy, hopelessness, and even thoughts of death.