We all get a little melancholy sometimes. But being down in the dumps is not the same as being depressed. The symptoms of depression are often subtle, which is why friends and family remain aloof to the condition.

People who suffer from depression can go months or years feeling that they are lost in a dark world they cannot escape from. For the outsider looking in, the symptoms of depression may not be so obvious. The misconceptions about depression are partly to blame for not recognizing the warning signs in loved ones.

Have you ever known someone who is so utterly shy, they can barely speak to others? When they do speak up, it may be quiet, low and barely above a whisper. While many people are prone to shyness and a reluctance to jump into new social extremes, that quiet person who always sits alone could very well be suffering from Avoidant Personality Disorder.

This disorder is a manifestation of a person's feeling that they are simply not good enough. They harbour a deep fear of rejection and being unwanted, and tend to be sensitive to any type of criticism.