Nicole,
This was the original info I was given when I was first dx with depression:
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
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 longer period of time. . (A mood disorder is classified as minor depression if less than five depressive symptoms are present for at least 2 weeks.)
My dx is major depressive disorder but I do not let the label bother. No depression is fun but now days with all the help and people out there willing to support you pulling out of depression is doable.
Never lose hope in dealing with your fears and depression. Notice your feelings, figure out what's real, ask 'so what?', make it bigger than life, walk through it, and celebrate who you are.
Kindly,
Kitt