Depression is a feeling of deep, deep sadness, despondency, and dejection.
It negatively affects how we feel, the way we think, and how we act.
It causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in things we used to enjoy.
It is common in dialysis patients and is often a natural reaction to our situation.
Some signs of depression are:
Always feeling sad
Loss of interest or pleasure in things we once enjoyed
Changes in appetite – weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
Loss of energy or increased fatigue
Increase in purposeless physical activity like hand-wringing and pacing or slowed movements and speech
Feeling worthless or guilty
Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
Thoughts of death or suicide
Please note that some of these signs are also a natural, physical result of dialysis and do not necessarily point to depression. These are only general signs of depression.
