How can you tell if someone is depressed?

Question

I think one of my brothers is, but I am not sure.

Answer 1

According to the DSM-IV-TR criteria for diagnosing a major depressive disorder (cautionary statement) one of the following two elements must be present for a period of at least two weeks:

-Depressed mood, or
-Loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities.
-It is sufficient to have either of these symptoms in conjunction with five of a list of other symptoms over a two-week period. These include:

-Feelings of overwhelming sadness or fear or the seeming inability to feel emotion (emptiness).
-A decrease in the amount of interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities of the day, nearly every day.
-Changing appetite and marked weight gain or loss.
-Disturbed sleep patterns, such as insomnia, loss of REM sleep, or excessive sleep (Hypersomnia).
-Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly everyday.
-Fatigue, mental or physical, also loss of energy.
-Feelings of guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, anxiety, or fear.
-Trouble concentrating or making decisions or a generalized slowing and obtunding of cognition, including memory.
recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

Answer 2

For one if women as good at sensing things. There can be ser
veral symptoms. Less not eating or comfort eating. Having no get up and go. Putting themselves down a lot and/or moody and snappy. Shopping a lot to cheer themselves up. So there might be in debt. Shoulder might be hunched down and curved more forward as if they have to world on their shoulders. Simply look not happy. No interest in their appearance. Crying a lot. Sleeping a lot. These are just a few. Not easy to deal with either as the person has to want to help themselves. Speak to one of your brother he is close to and express your concerns. Or speak to him yourself (Away from others and be confidential). Has he seem a doctor? Hopefully he can confided into someone his unhappiness. Use a search engine to find relating topic about depression and combat it. Or a good one is get to write down positive and negative feelings, then work in 1 comment at a time. Lavender essential oil is good to use to lift up. the spirit of a down one. Hope this help. All the best ;o)

Answer 3

Well, there are two ways of it. They can be either extreamly sad and dopey (the obvious depression) and (this is the tough one) The individual can seem like everything is fine and all, but little signs such as perhaps getting nervous, paranoid or has a sad look once in a while, you know things like that. Be careful about the second one, cuz this guy was friends with this guy and his sister and he thought both of them were fun-loving and outgoing, but one day the sister KILLED herself because she was depressed.

Answer 4

Classic signs of depression are a change in lifestyle (i.e. they are lazy and lethargic when they used to be active), loss of appetite, lack of motivation, and commonly, withdrawal from friends.

Only a psychiatrist can make a definitive acknowledgement that a state of depression exists, because many times it is simply that person's natural state or other times, caused by some type of illness or situation.

Answer 5

if you over sleep or undersleep. if he is tired, or if his thoughts are sad. if talking is a tremendous effort for him and if he is not eating as much or overeating, this can be depression. if depression runs in the family than the genetic factor is a possibility. only a psychiatric professional can diagnose depression for certain, so it is better if you take him to one. ask him if he is depressed, and tell him about the symptoms, and than ask whether he feels he meets some of the symptoms.

Answer 6

You have got really good answers here but can i ask if it's the same brother you asked about before if it is this might be why he's depressed...hope it works out well for everyone....

Answer 7

Does he spend all day in his room or the house ?
Does he sleep as long as possible ?
Does he neglect is appearance ?

Those are some signs, do you think he'll take the depression test
Maybe if you don't watch him answer, he'd be more comfortable.

Answer 8

withdrawn, moody, not interested in the usual stuff he does, sleeps alot quiet and so on, if he has 3 or more of these symtoms, let someone know do not let this keep going on, only a professional can help him, it will only get worse, and I am sure you do not want this for him.,Good luck and God Bless, you are a good sister to notice this.

Answer 9

The person's energy level is low. Nothing sounds fun, good to do/eat, or exciting. The person may never/rarely smile or laugh or sing or hum. The person may seem to not care about anything.

Answer 10

lack of appitite, tirdness, tendancy to break down and cry often,
anxious actions e.g (biting you're nails) loss of intrest in having fun and friends, excessive sleep or not enough sleep, and trouble of making decisions by them selves,

just a few symptoms