When it's more than just the blues¹

不仅只是感到悲伤

Feeling down in the dumps every so often is a normal part of life. But when you're gripped by an unrelenting sadness or hopelessness that keeps you from going about your usual routine, it's time to pay attention: it's the hallmark sign of clinical depression, and an estimated 7% of adults will experience it, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Even with this telltale sign in place, it's tough for a depressed² person to know if she really has the disease.

生活中时不时的情绪低落是正常的。但当你被无尽的悲伤或绝望笼罩、无法进行正常活动时，你需要当心了：这是临床抑郁症的标志性迹象，据称7%的成年人会患临床抑郁症，美国国家心理卫生研究所表示。即使有了这一迹象，抑郁症患者也很难弄清自己是否患有该疾病。

"Almost all of the symptoms of depression on their own are experienced by everyone at one time or another," explains Jennifer Payne, MD, director of the Women's Mood Disorders³ Center at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. If you've been dealing⁴ with four or more of the following symptoms every day for two weeks, and they've impaired⁵ the way you usually function (for example, prevented you from working, being a responsible parent, or seeing friends), it's time to check in with your doctor.

"每个人都曾/会体验抑郁症的所有症状，"医学博士、巴尔的摩约翰霍普金斯大学女性心境障碍中心的主任珍妮弗·佩恩解释道。如果你已连续两周每天都有如下四种或四种以上的症状，且常用机能或已遭损害（比如，阻碍您工作、成为称职的家长或拜访朋友），那么您该去看医生了。

You're eating more (or less) than usual

吃的比往常更多或更少

Depression leaves you withdrawn⁶ and checked out, and that can manifest as a loss of appetite. "If your brain is preoccupied⁷ with negative thoughts, you may forget to eat or lose interest in cooking or preparing meals," says Yvonne Thomas, PhD, Los Angeles-based psychologist specializing in depression and self-esteem. On the other hand, sometimes the disease kicks in the opposite effect, making you hungry and driving you to overeat. "The mix of emotions that tend to depression-sadness, pessimism⁸ about the future, and low self-esteem-can compel you to try to soothe⁹ your feelings with food binges," says Thomas.

抑郁症会让你变得要死不活，而食欲不振就是迹象之一。"如果你的大脑充斥着消极的想法，那你可能会忘记吃饭，或者对烹饪、做饭失去兴趣，"专攻抑郁症和自尊的洛杉矶心理学家伊冯娜·托马斯博士说道。另一方面，这种疾病有时候会产生相反的效果，让你特别饿、驱使你大吃大喝。"趋向抑郁的情绪混合--悲伤、对未来的悲观以及自卑--会迫使你大吃大喝以期抚慰心灵。"

You're sleeping too much or too little

睡太多或太少

Some people with depression find themselves snoozing under the covers more; the disengagement and dip in energy make you tired all the time, says Thomas. "Sleeping more is also a way depressed people escape from their sadness; it becomes a refuge," she adds. Others with depression experience restless or interrupted sleep or even insomnia¹⁰.

有些抑郁症患者发现自己以抑郁症为借口以获得更久的睡眠；能量分散和下降会让你十分疲惫，托马斯说道。"抑郁症患者也会通过多睡觉来逃避悲伤，睡觉成了他们的避难所，"她补充道。其他抑郁症患者会经历睡不安稳或睡眠中断，甚至失眠。