Depression Symptoms, Signs, Causes, Tests, And Treatments

Below, you’ll find must-know information about depression.

Depression is a common and dangerous medical disorder that negatively influences a person’s emotions, thoughts, and actions.

Depression is one of the most widespread mental disorders, affecting around 21 million Americans each year.

Depression may impede a person’s performance at work and at home, in addition to causing a variety of emotional and physical concerns.

Without treatment, depression may be extremely harmful and dangerous. It increases the likelihood of risky behaviors such as drinking and drug addiction.

In addition, depression may ruin relationships, cause problems at work, and make it difficult to recover from life-threatening illnesses.

It is hard for depressed individuals to “pick themselves up” and recover. Depression can last for weeks, months, or even years if it is not addressed.

Many folks erroneously believe that having a positive perspective or choosing not to be depressed is a matter of personal choice.

Family and friends may lose patience or find it difficult to understand why a person cannot “get over it.” They could even declare that the individual has no cause for depression.

Depression is a serious mental condition. A person with depression cannot simply decide to stop feeling depressed. Depression might feel overpowering and hopeless, in contrast to everyday sadness or worry.

If you are not sure if you have depression, there are various tests that you can take online to determine your condition.

Here are the various critical depression symptoms and signs you should know about.

10. Insomnia Or Oversleeping

Insomnia is trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. It is often a characteristic of depression and other mental health disorders.  Sleep is interrupted by overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, grief, guilt, or worthlessness.

At the same time, a depressed person could use sleep as a form of escape. Hence, he or she ends up oversleeping.

For a depressed person, oversleeping is a coping mechanism to avoid how he or she truly feels.

9. Irritability

Depression is linked to irritability, a form of anger. A person who is upset may snap at others for trivial reasons. The individual is incapable of handling minor setbacks without reacting negatively.

A sad person views every input and piece of information unfavorably. Therefore, he or she is inclined to transmit negativity to others through anger or annoyance.

8. Loss Of Appetite Or Overeating

Both overeating and loss of appetite are symptoms of depression. Many depressed individuals lose both energy and interest. This can manifest as a loss of appetite.

At the same time, depression can also lead to overeating. The individual consumes comfort foods that stimulate the brain’s reward regions.  This causes the individual to consume more while not being hungry.

7. Fatigue

Those who are depressed are frequently exhausted. Their energy levels decrease when they are depressed. Fatigue may become even more pronounced if feelings of despair and loneliness are experienced.

This makes it very hard for people who are depressed to stay active. Since their bodies feel heavy, rigid, and sluggish, simple tasks such as eating, dressing up, and taking a shower become challenging for them to do.

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