Depression Symptoms

• irritability
• feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
• you can't concentrate
• overwhleming saddness
• changes in sleep
• loss of interest in life's activities
• appetite loss
• self loathing

Depending on your age, personality and gender, the symptoms of depression can
vary greatly. Whenever depression lasts more than 90 days, it is considered major
depression. Some periods of saddness are typical in one's life, but prolonged
saddness and listless may be a sign of manic depression symptoms.

Seasonal affective disorder is also often diagnosed as a form of depression.

There are a number of treatments that are available to depression sufferers,
especially those with minor cases of depression.

Some treatments include:

• Cultivate Compassionate Relationships
• Exercising & Sleeping Regularly
• Improving One's Diet and Nutrition
• Reprogramming Negative Thinking Patterns

Clinical Depression can be a debilitating mental disease, and it afflicts persons of all races, ages, and does not distinguish between men and women. There are several signs and symptoms to look for if you feel that you or a loved one might be suffering from clinical depression, and there are numerous treatment options available. Know what to look for before it is too late.

Mental Symptoms

You're not able to see a person's mental state, so these are common symptoms to know in terms of self-diagnosis. If anxiety is a common occurrence in your life, you might be suffering from clinical depression. You might also have difficulty concentrating at home or work, and you might have experienced a loss of interest in the things that used to give you pleasure. Sometimes depression manifests itself in the form of lost libido. Seek help immediately if you experience suicidal or homicidal ideation. You should also be aware of a number of physical symptoms that can occur in clinical depression.

Physical Symptoms

Physical symptoms can be noted to an extent for other people, so these are signs to look for personally and for friends or relatives you suspect might be depressed. Excessive weight loss or gain, perpetual fatigue, muscle aches, digestive problems and insomnia are just a few symptoms that might be present. If you're experiencing frequent headaches and flu-like symptoms, you might be depressed. This is especially true if you've gone to doctors, and they were unable to give you a physical diagnosis. If someone you know sleeps too much or complains of being tired all the time, they could be depressed. Also, be on the lookout for rapid changes in weight or if a loved one cries often and easily. Almost any physical symptom could potentially be attributed to depression, so you need to be alert for any emergence of the known physical symptoms compounded with mental or emotional ones.

Emotional Symptoms

Emotional symptoms are the most obvious that you'll experience and the hardest to detect in others. Feelings of pervasive sadness, inadequacy, hopelessness and helplessness are the most common. If you feel guilty for no foreseeable reason and "emotionally drained" most days, you might be depressed. There are many potential symptoms of clinical depression, but the general rule is that experiencing 5 of any symptoms are enough to make an appointment with a psychologist or psychiatrist. There are plenty of treatment options available, but you or the person you are concerned about have to take the first step.

Treatment options

Treatment options available for clinical depression might include cognitive- behavioral therapy, use of prescription medication to alter chemical balance in the brain, or a combination of both. Popular medications belong to a group of anti-depressants call SSRI's (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) and most recently doctors have been prescribing medications that effect serotonin and norepinephrine. Several different types and dosages of medications might need to be tried to experience proper efficacy, and any improvements are commonly noted after 4-6 weeks of continuous use. Consistency is key during any treatment.