We all experience some kind of sadness that disappears within a short period of time, like after a day or so.
However if the feeling about yourself or the world around you start to interfere with your daily life at school, work or at home then you are probably suffering from a depression.
Depression is a medical disorder (just like diabetes and high blood pressure are medical disorders) that affects your thoughts, feelings, physical health and behaviors.
People with depression experience a number of symptoms all day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks. Most people do not know if they are suffering from depression and that is why they don’t seek medical advice
1. Sleep changes
A person who is depressed is more likely to wake up in the early hours (insomnia) or get late at school or work because of oversleeping, also called hypersomnia.
2. Persistent feelings of sadness or unhappiness
When you are in a depression, you may not be able to see your way out. It may feel as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel. You may begin to lose all hope for things improving, for life getting any better.
3. Weight gain or loss.
Experts say that a gain or loss of more than 5% of the body within a month could be a sign of depression. For example if a 60 kg person loss or gain of 3 kg unintentional or without change in physical activity.
People who are depressed are more like to suffer from poor eating, either overeating or having a sudden decrease in appetite
4. Suicide attempt
A person who is depressed often doesn’t see the need to live anymore. Commons signs of someone who is suicidal include, talking about harming or killing oneself, saying words like “if I had a gun I was going to shoot myself right now”, or “ I don’t deserve to live”.
5. Concentration problems
If you suffer from depression then you are more likely to find it hard to concentrate in class or at work or even having difficulty in remembering what you did before or make decisions.
A college student wrote on National Institute of Mental Health, “I couldn’t concentrate; I couldn’t sit still for a minute and really do anything that took any concentration”
6. Physical pain
Depression can cause headaches, stomach aches and even back pain. A former policeman said “it’s sort of like a slow headache, but it is always there. It’s like something is holding you back, something’s weighing you down”.
7. Loss of interest in hobbies or activities
No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.
Men usually turn to alcohol to stay away from their partners as a result reduced sex drive.
8. Fatigue and decreased energy
Your thinking may be slower, your reactions slower, even your movements may become slower, or seem slower.
The slowness is further complicated by fatigue, by feeling very tired a lot or even all the time. Even in the gym you may experience reduced strength
9. Feelings of guilt
People who are experiencing depression tend to blame themselves for the unhappiness in their lives.
You tell yourself that everything that you do turns out wrong and that you are afraid you are going to fail in everything new you try to do.
10. Restlessness and irritability
You can never relax or feel rested. You lash out at other people even for little things they say or do to you. A man is most likely to be abusive at home to his wife or kids
As mentioned at the beginning depression is a medical conditons that should be attended to. The symptoms may vary from one person to another
If you have observed that you or a family member or friend suffer from most of the symptoms above, please consult a doctor or advise them to consult a doctor.
Remember, depression is curable!
References
Helpguide.org :http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_signs_types_diagnosis_treatment.htm
WebMD :http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/detecting-depression
National Health Institute :http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-index.shtml#pub3
Mayo Clinic :http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175/DSECTION=symptoms
Image Credit : http://www.carroll.edu/students/wellness/counseling/depression.cc
