SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION
Do you feel that you are sad quite often? Are you losing interest in your daily routine? If yes, then there are chances that you could be depressed. Mental disorders such as depression affect how someone thinks, feels, behaves, and interacts with others. Some may even experience suicidal thoughts. It is common to have trouble performing routine daily tasks when you are depressed. Sometimes it may even seem as if life is not worth living. You can’t just “snap out” of depression. It’s more than just having the blues. It may take time to heal depression. Don’t give up. Medication, psychotherapy, or both are usually helpful in treating depression.
A major question that mostly arises amongst every human suffering from prolonged sadness or losing interest in their daily routine is whether they are actually suffering from depression or just normal mood swings?
To answer this critical query, we have mentioned the most common symptoms you will have if you are suffering from depression:
- Sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Anger, irritation, frustration, even over small matters
- Loss of interest in or enjoyment of all normal activities, including sex, hobbies, and sports
- Disturbances in sleep, such as insomnia or excessive sleep
- Exhaustion, making even simple tasks seem challenging
- Weight gain or loss due to reduced appetite or food cravings
- Restlessness, anxiety, or agitation
- Inability to think, speak or move fast
- Lack of self-worth or guilt, or feeling guilty about past failures
- Having trouble making decisions, concentrating and paying attention
- Frequently or recurrently thinking of death, contemplating suicide, attempting suicide or committing suicide
Above mentioned symptoms are the most common symptoms of depression for adults.
However, for young children, adolescents and older adults, these symptoms could be different:
Symptoms of depression in teens or young children
- A child who is depressed may display sadness, anger, irritability, clinginess, worry, aches and pains, lack of interest in school, and underweight.
- An adolescent’s symptoms may also include sadness, irritability, worthlessness, anger, poor behaviour or poor attendance at school, misunderstanding and extreme sensitivity, using recreational drugs or alcohol, eating or sleeping excessively, and self-harm.
Symptoms of depression in older adults
- Personality changes or memory problems
- Pain or discomfort in the body
- An inability to concentrate, fatigue, poor appetite, sleep problems, or the inability to perform sex activities – not caused by a medical condition or medication
- Instead of going out and socializing or trying something new, they may prefer to stay at home.
- Suicidal thoughts
Depression can be effectively treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medications when necessary. The first and foremost thing you must understand is that if you are suffering from depression, you need medical attention as soon as possible. Therapists are experienced medical practitioners who know how to deal with patients having depression. Do not feel shy to go to such clinics to take mental therapies. However, if depression is not cured on time, it could worsen the situation and lead to other mental disorders. So, please consult a mental health professional if you are depressed or you know someone suffering from it.
