Depression

According to industry-standard guidelines, one must present at least five of the following symptoms to be diagnosed clinically depressed:

• Pleasure — No longer finding pleasure in normally pleasurable activities
• Mood — Feeling down or “blue” most of the time, every day
• Weight — Unexplained weight gain or loss (without dieting)
• Diet — Major unexplained changes in appetite or diet
• Sleep — Experiencing insomnia or chronic drowsiness (hypersomnia)
• Energy — Fatigue or loss of energy
• Emotions — Constantly feeling worthless, desperate, or guilty
• Attention Deficit — Inability to think or concentrate one’s attention
• Suicidal — Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Depression is often coincident with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder — a leading cause of compulsive finger picking.

Happily, treatments used for depression, such as antidepressants, are usually effective at treating a compulsive finger picking habit.