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It is not uncommon to have some minor depressive feelings during the course of life. The ups and downs that we all face due to loss, stress, problems and changes are normal. It is when the down feelings do not subside and remain for long periods of time that there is concern. When you feel sad, down, unhappy, etc. for periods of two weeks or longer you may be suffering from depression. It is important to know the signs of depression so that if you or someone you care about is showing the signs, help can be gotten quickly to remedy the depression.
Dimensions and Signs
Since there are so many facets to depression, it is important that sufferers and people around them are aware of the most important points relating to depression. The two most important aspects are the dimensions and signs of depression. There are three dimensions that are of concern when diagnosing depression. They are:
Frequency – how often you have depressed feelings
Severity – how bad the symptoms make you feel
Duration – how long the symptoms last
When it comes to depression signs, there are many and it only takes the presence of a few of them over an extended period of time to give a diagnosis of depression. Many people ignore the signs of depression as they develop assuming that they are just feeling down. They often do not realize how much time has elapsed since they were feeling happy and accept that this is how they feel all the time.
This type of thinking can lead to chronic depression which is painfully under diagnosed because people are unaware of the depression signs.
There are physical and emotional depression signs. The physical signs of depression include:
- Changes in sleeping pattern
- Changes in eating pattern
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Stomach aches
- Inexplicable aches and pains
- Diminished interest and enjoyment of activities
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Neglecting responsibilities
- Neglecting personal appearance
Emotional depression signs include feeling:
- Dejected
- Sad
- Anxious
- Apathetic
- Apprehensive
- Guilty
- Pessimistic
- Irritable
- Hopeless
- Negative
- Empty
- Helplessness
- Having suicidal thoughts
- Having low self-esteem
If you experience any five of these symptoms for a period of two weeks or more you should seek help from a mental health care professional. You will be evaluated for depression. Evaluation typically does not involve anything other than taking information. If you have risk factors for medical conditions that can cause symptoms of depression, it may be recommended that you have testing done to detect any problems.
Not Alone
You should realize that you are not alone in suffering from depression. It is estimated that approximately 19 million Americans of all ages and women are twice as likely to experience depression as men. There are several different types of depression and they range in severity. The signs of depression are not always clear which is why doctors rely on a list of symptoms in combination to begin a diagnosis. It is of utmost importance that you not attempt to diagnose or treat yourself for depression. Mental health care professionals are specially trained to make the correct diagnosis and address treatment options.
Treatment
Treatment for depression involves treating depression signs as well as depression related thinking and behavior patterns. There are drug and therapy treatments available and they are typically used in combination to treat depression.
The treatment recommended will depend on the type of depression you suffer from and will be altered as needed to alleviate symptoms and how well treatment is going. There is no one treatment for depression and drug treatments often take at least six weeks before results are noted and side effects subside. Patience is an important part of getting through depression, you have to want to feel better and work toward it.
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