9 Depression Symptoms to Look Out For
What is depression?
Depression is a medical condition which affects our mind and body at the same time. It can affect our ability to function. In most cases, depression causes difficulty with sleeping, eating, presence of mind and thinking. This is a mental health condition which requires proper care and treatment because of its serious effects. If left untreated, depression can worsen over time, sometimes leading to suicidal thoughts. On a positive note, the symptoms of depression can be improved or managed through treatment or therapy.
Sometimes it is difficult for a person to realize if he/she is going through depression or not. Everything might seem very normal on the outside, but there could be changes which we may not notice in the beginning. Given below are 6 major symptoms of depression.
1. Loss of interest: Depression is capable of taking the pleasure out of your life by reducing your interest in doing activities. You no longer feel happy even when you try doing your favorite hobby. Major depression symptoms includes lack of sex drive and even impotence.
2. Unstable emotions: A person suffering from depression can experience quick changes of emotions. One minute it's an outburst of laughter and the next you’re crying uncontrollably. This is because depression can cause mood swings. You do not take time to process thoughts, hence resulting in extreme outbursts of emotions.
3. Hopelessness: This symptom is very common among people suffering from depression. They give up things very easily or not even take a chance to fight for anything because of hopelessness. They have lost hope in their life. This symptom should be given special attention as it could lead a person to commit suicide.
4. Insomnia: Depression and sleep problems are directly linked. Among people suffering from depression, almost 75% of them have trouble falling asleep. A good sleep can reduce the chances of developing depression. Disturbed sleep not only affects your mind, but also leads to depression.
5. Loss of appetite: In this case, it is either eating too much or too little. Loss of appetite can be taken as an early sign of depression and is a common symptom, but in some cases, feeling sad or worthlessness can make some people overeat. A sudden gain or loss in weight should be examined without any delay, as it can be the initial stage of depression.
6. Poor memory and concentration: Thinking over and over again about a bad situation that happened in the past or which might happen in the future may give no space for new events to get registered. One might get lost in a loop of unwanted thoughts which disturbs the presence of mind. As the mind is preoccupied with a lot of unwanted thoughts, it may be impossible for a person to recall or remember events from the past. One may be physically present in the scene, but mentally he/she might be lost in a web of thoughts.
7. Irritability: irritability can be seen as a symptom for numerous conditions like depression, stress, post-traumatic stress, bipolar disorder, substance abuse and so on. It is a condition where you get irritated or exhausted very easily. A good mental health improves the overall quality of life, but depression can lead to something like this which might hinder your daily activities.
8. Being less social: Staying away from loved ones or from the society as a whole might be another symptom of depression. A depressed person often chooses to isolate himself/herself. This not only keeps them away from people, but also paves the way to develop negative thoughts. He/she might not like anyone entering their personal space or to get advice from close ones. Staying away from society only worsens the condition. Take courage and seek help.
9. Suicidal thoughts: People suffering from depression for a long time develop suicidal thoughts. This can be controlled or managed if proper therapy is provided.
Depression is quite common but a treatable mental health issue. In most cases, the ones suffering from it do not speak up which can worsen the condition. There are many ways of treating depression. One of the best methods to treat depression is through TMS therapy. Contact us to learn more about TMS therapy. You may also book an appointment with our doctor to explore more about this treatment.