Being with others

If you are suffering from depression, you don't feel like or have the energy to be with other people. If you need to go out, you have to force yourself to do it. You keep to yourself at social gatherings and afterwards, you feel tired, worn out and sad.

Even with milder depression, you feel tired and lack energy, and you are therefore unable to spend much time in the company of others. You do know that you ought to look after your family and friends. You also do know that you ought to look after yourself but you simply haven't got the strength to do it.

If you are depressed, you prefer to be left alone, because you simply haven't got the energy for anything else. Unfortunately this isolation and withdrawal only makes the depression worse and a vicious cycle is set in motion.