This is a project for a high school AP Psychology course. This is a fictionalized account of having a psychological ailment. For questions about this blog project or its content please email the teacher, Laura Astorian: laura.astorian@cobbk12.org

1. A B L U E K I T T E N P R E S E N TAT I O N
DEPRESSION

2. T H I S I S A P R O J E C T F O R A H I G H S C H O O L A P P S Y C H O L O G Y
C O U R S E . T H I S I S A F I C T I O N A L I Z E D A C C O U N T O F H AV I N G
A P S Y C H O L O G I C A L A I L M E N T. F O R Q U E S T I O N S A B O U T T H I S
B L O G P R O J E C T O R I T S C O N T E N T P L E A S E E M A I L T H E
T E A C H E R , L A U R A A S T O R I A N :
L A U R A . A S T O R I A N @ C O B B K 1 2 . O R G

3. WHAT IS IT?
Depression is a mental illness
characterized by the symptoms in
this presentation.
It’s often caused by a lack of
serotonin, a neurotransmitter
involved in regulating moods.
Hormone imbalances and
genetics can play a role too.

4. SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

5. FATIGUE AND LOSS OF ENERGY
People with depression
will often experience a
lack of energy and
motivation.
This sometimes
contributes to
excessive sleeping,
another symptom.

6. LOSS OF INTEREST
Hobbies and other
activities once
enjoyable will suddenly
seem boring.
They’ll experience a
loss of interest in
seemingly everything in
life.

7. PERSISTENT
EMPTINESS
Persistent sad, empty,
or anxious feelings are
prevalent in people
with depression.
It’s not all about being
sad. Sometimes it’s
about not feeling
anything at all.

8. HOPELESSNESS AND PESSIMISM
Things will seem like
they’ll never get better.
People with depression
begin viewing the world
in a highly pessimistic,
or even cynical, way.

9. INSOMNIA & APPETITE LOSS
It may be hard to sleep
when you want to, but you’ll
suddenly want to sleep for
days at the most
inopportune times.
A loss of appetite or stress-
eating and sudden weight
loss/gain could also
indicate depression

10. GUILT
Everything will seem
like it’s your fault.
Apologizing will seem
like the default thing to
do.
Sometimes the guilt is
just there with no
apparent source.

11. ANXIETY
Depression is sometimes accompanied by
anxiety, perfectly characterized by the above
comic.

12. THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE
Thoughts of suicide or
suicide attempts are a big
indicator for depression.
Self-harm is another
symptom. Self-harm is not
just cutting; it also
includes other self-
destructive behaviors
such as burning, biting,
and scratching.

13. ADDITIONAL
SYMPTOMS
• Irritability/restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Bad memory
• Difficulty making decisions
• Physical ailments
• Headaches
• Stomach problems
• Cramps
• Muscle tension

14. WHAT IT’S LIKE
MY PERSONAL ACCOUNT
I T C O N F U S E S M E B E C A U S E
I ’ M U N S U R E W H E T H E R
W H A T I ’ M D O I N G A N D
T H I N K I N G I S A R E S U L T O F
D E P R E S S I O N O R J U S T M E
B E I N G A W H I N Y L I T T L E
C H I L D .

15. UNPRODUCTIVE & TIRED
I have no motivation to do any work
despite the fact that I know I should
and I want to do it.
This is often followed by feelings of
self-hate at my uselessness.

16. CONSTANT FRUSTRATION
I am constantly frustrated
at the little things: my
inability to function, tiny
irritations like dropping a
spoon, or even my
computer’s fan whirring
too loudly.
The smallest things
seem to set me off. I try
to stay calm, but it
usually culminates in
frustrated screaming
muffled by a pillow.

17. SELF-DIRECTED HATE
Whenever something bad
happens, my default thought is
to blame myself. The default
reaction is to chide myself and
say how big of a failure I am. I
know it’s not the right way to
go, but it’s habit, and I
oftentimes believe what my
brain tells myself.
It’s like I have a voice in my
brain that’s not mine shouting
at me for being such a failure
sometimes. It really kills your
motivation.

18. INDECISION
It’s so difficult to make
decisions, even small ones
like what cereal I want to eat
in the morning. I’m afraid of
making the wrong choice,
even if the consequences
are literally nonexistent.
It’s one of those things
where I’m not sure if it’s me
or the depression talking.

19. OCCASIONAL HAPPINESS
I am capable of being
happy. There are times
where I can smile and
laugh genuinely and be
with my friends.
This only makes me feel
worse later as I only end
up telling myself to stop
being so dramatic, to stop
being such a horrible
attention seeking human.

20. INTENSE IRRITATION
On one hand, I loathe to be alone and without comfort.
On the other, everyone seems to irritate me. I wish
they’d leave me alone and let me do my own thing.
This irritation also extends to things other than people. I
am sick of having classes. I am sick of the world. I am
sick of myself.

21. INDIFFERENCE
At the end of the day, I just want to give up. I
see no point in caring and no point in doing
anything. This often leads to thoughts that
there is no point in even being on Earth.