Signs of depression need to be observed in order to get proper treatment. Depression symptoms cannot be overlooked at any cost. The patient needs immediate help if the symptoms are serious.
Depression is a mood disorder that tends to cause a persistent feeling of sadness as well as loss of interest. Also known as major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it does affect how a person feels, thinks and behaves and can rather lead to a variety of emotional cum physical problems. A person may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes a person may feel as if life is not worth living.
Depression is not a weakness and it is difficult to “snap out” out of it. Depression can require long-term treatment, but the sufferer need not get discouraged. Most people with depression do feel better with medication, psychotherapy or even both. It is important to know signs of depression.
Table of Contents
Depression Symptoms
Depression does tend to occur only once during a person’s life time, people do suffer from multiple episodes. During these episodes, symptoms can occur most of the day, nearly every day and can include:
- Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or even hopelessness
- Angry outbursts, irritability or perhaps frustration, even over small matters
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or even sports
- Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or even sleeping too much
- Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take much extra effort
- Reduced appetite cum weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain
- Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
- Slowed thinking, speaking or even body movements
- Feelings of worthlessness or perhaps guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame
- Trouble in thinking, concentrating, also making decisions and remembering things
- Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or even suicide
- Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
For several people with depression, symptoms turn out to be severe enough to cause noticeable problems in daily activities, such as work, school, social activities or relationships with others. Few people may feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why.
Also Read, How to overcome depression?
When to see a doctor
If depressed, make an appointment to see one’s doctor or mental health professional as soon as possible. If a person is reluctant to seek treatment, talking to a friend or loved one, any health care professional, a faith leader, or someone else the person trusts.
When to get emergency help
If a person thinks he or she may hurt him or herself or may attempt suicide, seeking help is better immediately.
- Reach out to a close friend or even a loved one.
- Contact a minister, spiritual leader or perhaps someone else in one’s faith community.
Causes
It is not really known exactly what causes depression. As with several mental disorders, a variety of factors can be involved, such as:
- Biological differences: People with depression can appear to have physical changes in their respective brains. The significance of these changes is still very uncertain, but may eventually do help pinpoint causes.
- Brain chemistry: Neurotransmitters are indeed naturally occurring brain chemicals that are likely to play a role in depression. Recent research does indicate that changes in the functioning and effect of these neurotransmitters and how they interact with neurocircuits involved in maintaining mood stability may rather play a significant role in depression and its treatment.
- Hormones: Changes in one’s body’s balance of hormones may be involved in causing or even triggering depression. Hormonal changes can rather result with pregnancy and during the weeks or months after delivery (postpartum) and from also thyroid problems, menopause or a number of other conditions.
- Inherited traits: Depression is also more common in people whose blood relative also has also this condition. Researchers are of course making much effort to find genes that may be involved in causing depression.
Conclusion
Depression happens to be a serious disorder that can cause much distress to other family members and also the affected person can have hard time. Depression often does get worse if it is not treated, resulting in emotional, behavioral as well as health problems that do affect every area of one’s life.