i know i feel depressed and i saw the subject in my psychology text book earlier so i checked out the diagnosis.
"the formal diagnosis of major depressive disorder requires the presence of five of the following symptoms (including depressed mood or loss of interest and pleasure). And must persist for longer than two weeks."
1. sad, depressed mood. (tick)
2. loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities. (tick)
3. difficulties in sleeping. (tick)
4. shift in activity level, becoming either lethargic or agitated. (tick)
5. poor appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain. (i don't think so.)
6. loss of energy and great fatigue (don't think so... but from time to time i think i get this.)
7. negative self-concept, feelings of worthlessness and guilt. (tick)
8. difficulty in concentrating (again, sometimes.)
9. recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. (i only remember once where i kept thinking of my own death across a week. So no.)
so that is at least 5.
i know there are a bunch of people here who feel depressed but i always lie about it, this is the first time i have been frank with myself and others.
I think its down to life style, i don't like the idea of taking drugs regularly so anti depressants are out of the question.