Characteristics

• Behavioural characteristics:

  • Reduced energy levels, making them lethargic
  • Disruption to sleep and eating behaviour
  • Aggression and self-harm
• Emotional characteristics:

  • Feelings of emptiness, worthlessness, hopelessness
  • Lowered self-esteem
  • Feeling of anger, directed at the self or others
• Cognitive characteristics:

  • Poor concentration e.g unable to stick with task they usually would
  • Attending to and dwelling on the negative
  • Absolutist thinking, e.g when a situation is unfortunate they see it as an 'absolute disaster'