Clinical Depression can be a debilitating mental disease, and it afflicts persons of all races, ages, and does not distinguish between men and women. But there is hope: through decades of research, much has been discovered about this condition.
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.
Emotional Symptoms
- feelings of
- pervasive sadness
- inadequacy
- hopelessness
- helplessness
- causeless guilt
- emotionally drained
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.
Emotional symptoms are the most obvious that you’ll experience and the hardest to detect in others.
Mental Symptoms
- frequent anxiety
- difficulty concentrating
- loss of interest in fun activities
- lack of labido
- homicidal ideation
You’re not able to see a person’s mental state, so these are common symptoms to know in terms of self-diagnosis
Physical Symptoms
- Excessive weight gain/loss
- perpetual fatigue
- muscle aches
- digestive problems
- insomnia
- frequent headaches
- flu-like symptoms
- oversleeping
The presence of one or more of these symptoms does not mean someone is depressed. However, when these symptoms are coupled with mental and emotional symptoms, then this is a likely sign of clinical depression.
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.
Clinical Depression Symptoms and SignsClinical 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.
