Welcome Noon and Liv
You've found a safe, caring , and reliable support community for people battling Depression. We have many members here who will be glad to lend an ear, offer information, and provide support for people who need it.
There is a great book you might want to look into:
Understanding Depression By Patricia Ainsworth. You might try your library or local book store. You can also order it through our Resources, Books. (Look to the Right)
Depression is generally ranked in terms of severity -- mild, moderate, or severe. The degree of your depression, which your doctor can determine, influences how you are treated. Symptoms of depression include:
Sleep disturbances -- usually insomnia (for example, consistently waking up very early in the morning) but may be excessive sleeping
A dramatic change in appetite, often resulting in either weight gain or weight loss
Fatigue and lack of energy
Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and inappropriate guilt
Extreme difficulty concentrating
Agitation, restlessness, and irritability OR inactivity and withdrawal from usual activities
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
Major depression -- five or more symptoms listed above must be present for at least 2 weeks, but tends to continue for 20 weeks. (A mood disorder is classified as minor depression if less than five depressive symptoms are present for at least 2 weeks.)