Major Depressive Disorder

By: Gloomylife

Definition

A mood disorder in which a person experiences,

in the absence of drugs or medical conditions, two or more weeks of

significantly depressed moods, feelings of worthlessness, and

diminished interest or pleasure in most

activities

Signs• Lethargy• Feelings of worthlessness• Loss of interest in family, friends, and activities

Feelings

• Sad• Hopeless• Discouraging• Rejected• Unloved• Isolated

In addition to sadness…• There are a series of changes in

eating, sleeping and motor activity• A lack of pleasure in activities that

usually caused pleasure in the past• Suicidal thoughts, inappropriate

guilt, and other faulty beliefs may also be present

Cognitive symptoms

• Low self-esteem• Pessimism• Reduced motivation• Generalization of negative attitudes• Exaggeration of seriousness of problems• Slowed though processes

Depression Recovery: Self Help

1. Cultivate supportive relationships

2. Take care of yourself3. Get regular exercise4. Eat a healthy, mood-

boosting diet5. Challenge negative

thinking6. Raise your emotional

intelligence7. Know when to get

additional help

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive therapy makes the assumption that thoughts

precede moods and that false self-beliefs lead to negative emotions. Cognitive therapy

aims to help the patient recognize and reassess his

patterns of negative thinking and replace them with positive

thoughts that more closely reflect reality.

Sometimes I feel like jumping off a building because life doesn’t seem

worth living. Nothing is good is life and there is

no point in living.

There is a sense of emptiness

around me, like if no on exists besides me.

There is no one love me or

support me. I am isolated.

Sometimes I just sit by my door thinking about life and what

to do about it. I feel like a

disappointment and a failure.

Life seems like a road that leads to nowhere and has

no end. I just keep walking but there is nothing to look

forward to.

I used to love playing the guitar but now everything seems different. I

don’t find any pleasure playing the guitar and I have lost my interest in

music.

There is so much stress from school

with finals, AP exams, and projects

that sometimes I just want to give up. To forget all

about school and life because I feel discouraged and

defeated.

I feel like I’m trapped. Trapped in this dull life and trapped by

life’s restrictions. I’m leading a life with no

emotions except sadness with nothing

new that ever happens.

I feel like I’m waiting for a train to take me away, but

the train never comes. I might as well jump onto

the tracks and let the train take me away… far

away…

The darkness takes over me and I feel very lonely. I search in the darkness

but fail at finding anyone. I reach out but there is no one to grab my hand and

lead me out of the darkness.

Everyday is a cloudy day. The sky seems to feel my emotions and cry with me until I’m out of tears and the clouds

are out of rain, bringing out the sorrow and sadness that never seem to end.

I find myself wondering what’s the point of life. There is no guarantee of being successful. Nobody gets out alive so why even try when we’re all going to die at the end anyways?

I look at myself in the mirror and wonder when I changed. I used to love life but

now I just want it to end. I find no

pleasure in anything

anymore. I’m not smart enough, pretty enough, or good enough for anything…

The End

DISCLAIMER: This is a project for a high school AP Psychology course. This is a fictionalized account of having a psychological

ailment. For questions about this blog project or its content please email the teach Chris Jocham: jocham@fultonschools.org