Depression Symptoms
Unfortunately for many people across the globe, depression is an increasingly common medical condition with symptoms that may or may not lead to a proper diagnosis. People usually expect to observe mental or emotional symptoms yet depression symptoms can cover a wide spectrum of different ailments, both mental and physical, so if you think depression is only a mental illness - think again.
There are two depression symptoms which have been long known to be the most common. The first one is an overwhelming feeling of sadness or a complete lack of hope. The second is when you feel like everyday activities have completely lost their thrill. You may even not feel like getting out of the bed because you do not care to do anything during the day. While it is possible for non-depressed people to feel these symptoms from time to time as well, it can be a good signal of depression when you feel these symptoms on an everyday basis, and if they are actually affecting your everyday life.
Other depression symptoms include both mental or physical ailments such as a complete loss of appetite which could make you lose unhealthy amounts of weight, lack of energy, poor and decreased concentration, sadness, either desire to sleep more than usual or inability to sleep and insomnia, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, aggression or anger, or even difficulty making decisions. Here is a lost of depression symptoms according to National Institute of Mental Health:
* Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
* Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
* Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
* Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
* Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
* Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
* Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
* Restlessness, irritability
* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
Usually a person with five or more of these symptoms is considered having Major Depression. There are depression test services both online or offline available that can be used as a tool to discover whether or not you might be suffering from depression. As always, the best way is to discuss your concern with your general practitioner who can recommend you to a professional after the initial diagnosis.