The Signs of Depression-You May Not Even Notice
Depression has been described as a constant, never-ending feeling of sadness or despair,
and in some cases the signs of depression may go unnoticed, until the person’s day to day
life is impacted, or they start to suffer from other symptoms. Studies show that at least 1
out of every 8 people will at some point in their life suffer from depression, for some, it is
a temporary state brought on by problems or events in their life, but for others, depression
is something that will severely impact every aspect of their life, and in some cases, finally
lead to destructive, suicidal behaviors, if left untreated.
Depression, believe it or not, is more prevalent in the western countries of the world, and
in the United States, is one of the leading causes of disability among adults.
The signs of depression often vary from person to person, and are easily overlooked by
friends, spouses, and family members, at least in the beginning stages. It is even difficult
for physicians to diagnose depression, because the symptoms do vary so widely. They
rely on a test called the DSM-IV-TR, which helps identify symptoms, and helps doctors
to classify them into depression, or other problems.
Most physicians don’t get concerned about depression unless the symptoms last for
longer than two weeks, because everyone has their ups and downs, good days and bad
days.
Signs of Depression-
*Sudden unexplained sadness, that won’t go away.
*Fear or apprehension, for example, some people are afraid to leave their homes, or are
paranoid suddenly of eating out at restaurants, or using public restrooms.
*Feeling disconnected from the world around you, having no emotions whatsoever for
anyone or anything, including yourself, sort of like you are on the outside of yourself
looking in.
*The inability to find any joy in favorite activities, even sex.
*Loss of or sudden increase in appetite, sudden weight changes resulting from this.
*Some people suffering from depression want to stay in bed and sleep all the time, while
others are suddenly unable to sleep, or stay asleep, even with the help of sleep aids.
*Feeling physically and mentally drained all the time, like you just can’t get up and walk
across the room, because you have no energy left.
*Inability to concentrate even on mundane tasks, and sudden indecision about everyday
things.
*Memory loss
*Self-destructive thoughts
You don’t have to suffer from all of the symptoms listed above to be classified as
suffering with depression. As stated before, the signs of depression vary greatly, you may
only suffer from one or two items on this list, or you may have a completely different set
of symptoms, and still be classified as being depressed.
Just as signs of depression vary from person to person, so do effective treatments. In
general, prescription medications are used, usually in combination with psychotherapy.
There are also many alternative treatments for depression that many people have found to
be effective.
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