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Depression is not, as many people seem to think, merely a feeling of being upset or “blue.” It is a severe medical condition that has real neurological causes and effects. However, many of the symptoms of depression are hard to decipher as they are subtle and will not seem too removed from the behaviour of someone having a bad day. However, if these symptoms last for an individual around two weeks or so, they may be facing a case of major clinical depression. Here are a few signs to watch out for:
1. Do you find yourself often caught up in an uncontrollable feeling of sadness?
A hallmark of depression is a deep sadness that emerges for no concrete reason. Feelings of hopelessness or emptiness may accompany this. The person may find themselves unable to control their negative thoughts.
2. Do you often feel irritable and angry?
This is a common symptom for male depressives who often may find themselves expressing their depression through recklessness and aggression. The individual will often find themselves at a short fuse and highly sensitive.
3. Do you feel “slower” than usual?
Depression can affect a person’s cognitive abilities, causing problems with concentration and memories. The person may often feel that their mental processes have slowed down and they have difficulty with work and studies.
4. Are you suffering from phantom pains?
Depression can often give rise to body pains and headaches that have no apparent medical cause and do not respond to treatment.
5. Do you frequently feel tired for no reason?
Depression can often lead to lethargy and sluggishness. They cannot work up the energy to perform even their most basic tasks. The person may feel that their physical abilities have regressed.
6. Are you unable to feel interested in anything?
Anhedonia or the inability to feel pleasure is a common symptom of depression. The person may lose interest in activities that formerly brought them pleasure. They may not want to engage in social interactions, sex, or their passions.
7. Is your sleep cycle unstable?
Sudden changes in sleep patterns where the person is either sleeping for too long or suffers from an inability to fall asleep can also indicate depression.
8. Have you been eating much less or much more than before?
Depression can affect your appetite, making the individual eat too much or too little. A weight gain or loss of around 5 per cent of body weight in a month can be an indicator of depression.
9. Do you feel guilty regarding events outside your control?
Another common symptom of depression is guilt. The person may feel helpless to change their circumstances and end up being overly critical of themselves as they blame themselves for their depression.
10. Have you been thinking of suicide?
This is an immediate warning sign and should be taken seriously. If a person is suffering from suicidal thoughts they need to get help as soon as possible.
Having a majority of these symptoms all day, for more than two weeks in a row is a strong indicator of depression. In the face of such a condition it is best to be prepared, and the above characteristics act as warning signs indicating a possibility of depression. The best thing for a patient with this condition is to remind themselves that the disease does not define them and to be aware.
If you have experienced any of these symptoms for a prolonged period of time, feel free to book an appointment at Manipal Hospitals.
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