DEPRESSED DEFINITION:A state of withdrawal; extreme sadness and reduced vitality PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS: A gaunt appearance Notable weight loss or gain Eyes that blink infrequently Wet or red eyes from crying Staring down at one’s hands Becoming non-reactive to stimuli or noises Lying in bed with no motivation to get up Saggy posture (a bent neck, drooping shoulders, etc.) Resting the head on one’s hand Tangled hair, overlong nails, and other signs of letting oneself go Wearing the same clothes day after day Shuffling steps and lethargic hand movements Obsession with an object that represents loss (a photo or trinket) A vacant stare Making excuses Poor conversation skills Stating outright that one doesn’t care about one’s own well-being A downturned mouth Lines in the face A slack expression Dark circles under one’s eyes An inability to sleep, or sleeping too much Poor eating habits Illness A tone that lacks strength or vitality An unclean home, room, or office space Ignoring phone calls or visitors Premature aging (wrinkles, tired eyes, gray or white hair, etc.) Giving up one’s interest in hobbies Failing grades at school or a lack of success at work Choosing isolation Dropping out of activities and moving away from friendships Picking at food or finding food tasteless Being unable to focus on tasks (work, school, home life, etc.) Forgetting appointments, conversations, and meetings Bulky or dull clothing choices Non-responsiveness to others, even family INTERNAL SENSATIONS: A hollowness in one’s chest that somehow feels heavy A slow pulse Shallow breathing Aches and pains Constant fatigue MENTAL RESPONSES: Feeling unmotivated Struggling with a self-critical mindset Desiring to live in the past or be alone Poor observation skills Obsessive thoughts (a focus on the negative, expecting bad things to happen, etc.) A negative outlook in general; bleak observations about the world and the people in it An inability to concentrate Losing track of time Thoughts of self-harm An aversion to noise, crowds, and stressful situations ACUTE OR LONG-TERM RESPONSES FOR THIS EMOTION: Eating disorders Manic behavior (hair pulling, OCD, paranoia, etc.) Wishing life was over; attempting or thinking about suicide Embracing danger and risk Addiction to medication Hoarding SIGNS THAT THIS EMOTION IS BEING SUPPRESSED: Slight pauses before reacting Emotional displays that seem forced or false Heavy self-medicating or drinking Wearing false, overly bright smiles Pretending to be ill to avoid social situations and people Lying in general MAY ESCALATE TO:Self-Loathing,Worthlessness,Homesick,Regret MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:Loneliness,Conflicted,Vulnerability,Hopefulness ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS: Ache, collapse, cut, deepen doubt, endure, engulf, give up hurt, overcome, overwhelm, sink slow, struggle, succumb, suffer weep, worsen WRITER’S TIP:It isn’t enough to show emotion; a writer needs to make the reader feel it. Think about the core visceral sensations you experience when feeling strong emotion, and if appropriate, utilize them to convey a similar experience to the reader.