Depressed Mood: Smiling on the Outside

Depression & Bipolar

A mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Depression affects how you feel, think, and behave. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood, energy and ability to think clearly.

Key Symptoms

Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
Loss of interest in pleasure
Sleep disturbances
Tiredness or lack of energy
Slowed thinking, speaking, or body movements
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts or attempts
Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

Hotlines:

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)