Have you felt sad, empty and tearful for long periods of time?

Or inexplicably angry and irritable or frustrated over small things .....?

What about feeling like you've lost pleasure in most things and just want to be alone?

Most people have a rough idea of what depression is and have possibly even experienced it at some point in their lives. Feeling low, sad down in the dumps with no motivation. Sometimes it can leave little will to live. It is also known as The black dog - for the same reason that it's this dark constant companion that can be unpredictable, sinister, overwhelming and not always seen, perhaps even feared. If any of you reading this article have ever felt depressed or had depression, you may recognise how well the metaphor actually fits.