Typical Signs And Symptoms Of Depression – What To Look Out For

Do you suspect that you or a loved one may be depressed?

Here are some typical signs and symptoms of depression, including psychological as well as physical symptoms, which could signal a red flag.

Psychological and Emotional Symptoms

* You feel anxious, empty, and / or sad, and these feelings seem to persist for a certain period of time.

* You are feeling hopeless and helpless about your situation and problems.

* You have a lowered appetite for living.

* Waking up each morning is a drag, and you dread having to face everything ahead.

* You have dampened enthusiasm for life.

* You have a negative worldview.

* You are becoming deluded in your negativity – believing something which is contrary to reality, for example that one is a horrible person when indeed one is a decent character.

* You think lowly of yourself, and your sense of self worth and self esteem have taken a beating.

* You often feel guilty for things, even for some which are obviously not your fault.

* You have lost interest in most activities, even hobbies which you usually enjoy.

* You do not feel like meeting people much of the time, preferring to isolate yourself and skipping social events.

* You generally feel blue, low, or down in the dumps.

* You have thoughts that life is not worth living.

* You often feel hapless and that you have lost control over your own life.

* You have thoughts of ending your life.

* You have suicidal thoughts or tendencies.

* You are living in a dysfunctional manner.

* You may think and live life in “slow motion”; or you may be agitated and edgy.

* You feel restless and irritable a lot of the time.

* You worry a lot about the state of your physical health.

* You feel as though you are being “stuck in a rut”.

Mental Symptoms

* You find it hard to focus or concentrate on anything.

* You have difficulty making decisions.

* Your mind has lost its edge.

* You find that your memory has deteriorated, and you struggle to remember things.

Physical or Physiological Symptoms

* Your movements are slow and your energy levels are low.

* You consistently feel tired and jaded; you feel fatigued and lack energy much of the time.

* You suffer from chronic fatigue and tiredness.

* You have lost your appetite; on the flip side, some depressed persons binge and overeat instead (compulsive binging).

* You suffer from indigestion.

* You suffer from constipation.

* You have a dry mouth.

* You suffer from insomnia and are unable to get sufficient and proper sleep; it is also possible that you oversleep instead (hypersomnia), having difficulty getting yourself out of bed.

* You are experiencing weight loss or weight gain.

* Your sex drive or libido has taken a hit, and you have little or no interest in sexual activities.

* You have heightened sensitivity to discomforts, pains and aches in your body.

* You are hit with physical ailments and symptoms which have no obvious cause or trigger; these may include headaches, tummy aches, as well as other aches, discomforts and pains.

Main Resources

Baumel, Syd. Dealing With Depression Naturally. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2000. Print.

Dispel Depression: The Complete Easy to Follow Diet and Activity Plan (Paperback)