Khizar Seo
When people think about sadness or emotional lows, they may think of depression. But actually, sadness or emotional lows can be part of depression, but not be depression. The thing is, depression is way more complex than just feeling sad or low. They actually may indicate something more serious that requires help. Knowing common depression symptoms can help people know just when to seek help to make sure they get the help they need.
A person or family may be researching Common Symptoms of Depression because they are looking for some help. Their symptoms may be severe, and they may not be able to or may not be in a position where looking for help is possible. At Lone Star Mental Health, these symptoms are our focus, and our clinical depression teams work to provide a treatment plan to improve our customers/partners’ symptoms in a caring and supportive way.
In this article, the goal is to be able to break down the signs of depression and gain an understanding of what the symptoms of depression are telling us, and the reason why, and the importance of why depression needs to be taken seriously and be recognized at the very beginning.
What do we know about Depression?
The clinical definition of depression is known as Major Depressive Disorder. Depression is a condition that goes beyond just a negative or an angry feeling. It is a condition. It is a state of being. It is a condition that can impede a person’s ability to do basic things and complete even the most basic activities in their daily life. Activities that may seem simple to some may not seem that way to everyone. It doesn’t matter your age, where you come from, or how you live your life; depression can affect you, too. It creates a case of chronic stress, which is a professional reason for an assessment. It is often associated with anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and other stressors.
The Importance of Understanding Symptoms of Depression
Many people with depression don’t realize it for years. They may ignore it and often assume that it is simply stress, fatigue, or a part of their personality. They go untreated, and depression continues to get worse, with risks that include:
- Using drugs or alcohol in a harmful way
- Problems in relationships
- Problems at work or in school
- Issues with your health
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
Finding the symptoms early can give the person the chance to get help before depression gets worse.
The Emotional Symptoms of Depression
Depression is a mood disorder. The symptoms can be emotional and also psychological.
Pain and Emptiness
Having a feeling of hopelessness, sadness, or emptiness, and feeling numb is a sign of depression. And the feeling can be so bad that it lasts for most of the day, nearly every day.
Losing Interest
Anhedonia is the name given to the feeling of losing interest. It is a psychological phenomenon that can lead to ian nability to feel joy in hobbies, activities, or socialize. It can feel so bad that it can cause you to not care about life itself.
Feelings of Worthlessness or Guilt
People with depression sometimes have excessive guilt or feel worthless. They think they are the reason for problems that are not their fault, or they think they are a burden to other people.
Difficulty Concentrating or Making Decisions
It is typical for depression to result in the inability to concentrate. This vagueness in thinking complicates everyday tasks, which negatively impacts work and school.
Physical Symptoms of Depression
Your body can feel the impact of depression in addition to the emotions that it comes with.
Chronic Fatigue and Low Energy
People feel tired and drained even after a full night’s sleep. It can feel difficult to perform even the simplest tasks.
Sleep Disturbances
People may experience sleep problems, which may include:
- insomnia or other problems with falling asleep
- waking up multiple times during the night
- sleeping for a long time and still waking up tired
When you feel tired, it can negatively impact other problems you may have, making sleep problems even worse.
Appetite and Weight Changes
People with depression may have noticeable changes in their eating habits, resulting in significant weight loss or gain. Some people eat consistently, some eat a lot, and others may eat very little.
The Mystery of Aches and Pains
Muscle tension, chronic pain, headaches, and digestive issues could arise with no medical reason. These physical symptoms are very common with depression, but are often dismissed.
Changes in Behavior and Social Interaction
Depression also affects how people act and interact socially.
Withdrawal from Social Situations
People may start to distance themselves from other people. They may stop interacting with them, going to parties, and spending time with their family. When people are isolated, they often become more depressed and miserable.
Less Productivity
Activities that were once easy to do in the past are now very difficult for the person. Some signs of this are missing deadlines, being absent from work or school, and other drops in performance.
More Agitation or Anger
People often associate depression with sadness, and they are right to do so. However, there is often also irritability. This is especially common in men and teenagers.
Other Conditions and Depression
Depression often overlaps with other mental and behavioral health issues, including:
- PTSD
- Anxiety
- Substance abuse
- Chronic stress or burnout
At Lone Star Mental Health Center, we focus on integrated treatment to help support depression and other co-occurring disorders.
When Is It Clinical Depression?
Not every small, sad moment in life means that you are clinically depressed. A mental health professional can tell you for certain that you are clinically depressed. This can include:
- Symptoms have been ongoing for two weeks or more
- You are unable to do daily activities.
- You are experiencing emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms.
Why Early Treatment Makes a Difference?
The sooner someone experiences the symptoms of depression, the better. Ignoring these symptoms can mean experiencing the following negative outcomes:
- Symptoms that are harder to treat
- Increased chance of experiencing the symptoms again
- Better relationships
- Better performance at work
The longer someone ignores the symptoms of depression, the more complicated the recovery process will be.
Evidence-Based Treatment Options for Depression
Professional help is a worthwhile investment and works for many people. Some of the most common ways to treat depression include the following:
Therapy
CBT, DBT, and trauma-focused therapy are examples of treatment modalities that help people identify and change their problematic ways of thinking, their emotions, and help build their coping mechanisms.
Medication Management
Sometimes, a mental health professional prescribes clients with antidepressants to clients, especially for those experiencing more severe depression. Medications work better when the clients are also in therapy.
Holistic and Lifestyle Guidance
Exercise, nutrition, sleep, and stress management are key factors in fostering long-term mental wellness.
Lone Star Mental Health offers Depression treatment to fit each client’s unique needs.
Breaking The Stigma Surrounding Depression
There is stigma surrounding mental illness that is often a barrier to people getting the treatment they need. Stigma surrounding mental health is rooted in a belief, often subconscious, that mental health is a character weakness, moral failing, a lack of willpower, or a deficient personal virtue. Mental illness is a real thing that people should feel empowered to get care for.
The more we talk, educate, and advocate for services to help people, the more we chip away at the stigma that prevents people from getting the help they need.
Final Thoughts: Spotting the Symptoms is the Start of The Journey to Good Mental Health
The more you know about the symptoms that accompany depression, the more empowered you will feel about managing your mental health. Having symptoms of depression is tough, and people don’t like to talk about it, but doing so is the first step to getting the help you need.
Lone Star Mental Health is dedicated to providing evidence-based treatment for the symptoms of depression and offers treatment across the state of Texas at all of our locations. We help people regain their emotional balance and resilience and recover from the symptoms of depression.
