2007-01-30 06:47:16 · 18 answers · asked by Charlotte B 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
YOU dont. but symptoms can be spotted by people who love you and care for you, ranging from low self esteem, self neglect through to personality change and nasty behaviour. The sufferer may not know and just feels that their world is falling apart. Realisation usually comes too late.
2007-01-30 06:52:08 · answer #1 · answered by ~☆ Petit ♥ Chou ☆~ 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It varies from person to person, but things to watch out for are:
Sleeping a lot less / more than usual
Eating a lot less/ more than usual
Feelings of sadness
Feeling suicidal / thinking about suicide
Feeling tired all the time, even if you've had a good night's sleep
Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy.
If you think you may be depressed the first point of call is normally your GP. He / she should take you seriously and ask you some questions similar to those above. They may ask you if you would like to take anti-depressants - these can help but are not for everybody. You may be offered counselling, however there is often a long waiting list for this. There may be other counselling agencies in your local area that are free or have a sliding scale, i.e. you pay what you can afford to pay. Your GP should have a list of these, or your local library may have a list too.
2007-01-30 16:43:10 · answer #2 · answered by Jude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Symptoms
If you have depression, you may feel hopeless and sad or stop feeling pleasure from almost everything you do. You may feel “down in the dumps,” tearful, or discouraged. You may also be irritable or anxious or have low energy levels. The symptoms of depression are often subtle at first. It can be hard to recognize that symptoms may be connected and that you might have depression.
The two most significant symptoms of depression are:
Sadness or hopelessness.
Loss of interest in or pleasure from most daily activities.
Other symptoms include:
Losing or gaining weight because of changes in appetite.
Sleeping too much or not enough.
Feeling restless and unable to sit still, or feeling that moving takes a great effort.
Feeling tired all the time.
Feeling unworthy or guilty without an obvious reason.
Having problems concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
Thinking often about death or suicide.
If you have at least five of these symptoms for 2 weeks or longer, and one of the symptoms is either sadness or loss of interest, you are diagnosed with major depression. But, if you have fewer than five symptoms, you may still be depressed and need treatment.
2007-01-30 14:55:55 · answer #3 · answered by saved_by_grace 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
How are you sleeping? too little ,too much
Do you have a decreased appetite?
Do you cry often and for what seems no reason?
Do you have any suicidal thoughts or thoughts of hurting yourself?
Do you feel alone even if you are surrounded by people?
Have you felt sad for long time(more than one week)?
These are just some questions you can ask yourself to get an idea of whether you are depressed.Chances are if you answered even a maybe to even one question you are depressed and need to seek help from a professional psychiatrist.
2007-01-30 15:18:01 · answer #4 · answered by miss-snoopy 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It really comes back to the fact you know more about you than anybody else in the world. You know what goes on in your own mind. So analyse what symptoms you have .In mild depression main symptoms are anxiety and a variable mood. For more serious depression you can have loss of appetite, difficulty in sleeping, fatigue and inability to concentrate. Severely depressed people may have thoughts of suicide and feel guilty and worthless and also delusions, such as believing someone is trying to kill them. But if you think you have any of these symptoms, you need to decide yourself if it is depression or just a part of your normal character.If it is depression whether it is mild, more serious or severe. A Doctor who decides this for you may often get you wrong.
2007-01-30 15:15:22 · answer #5 · answered by Wamibo 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It is very difficult to see yourself. I have been told that i have severe depression by my GP, my therapist and a psyciatrist - but i still doubt it. I won't take the recommended medication, chosing to take only half of the amount as i am not sure myself that they are right. It has taken years for it to begin to sink in, and like i said, i still doubt it, despite all the symptoms i have and difficulties i face. When you have a depressed mind its hard to see. Very hard. I would suggest that you go and see your doctor and tell them your symptoms. Good luck. xx
2007-02-03 03:05:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Honey, please get some help, I have suffered depression for many years and wish I got help sooner. That feeling of no worth,crying and so unhappy. No-one needs to feel this way and you deserve so much more, good luck and take care x
2007-01-31 07:56:50 · answer #7 · answered by pringles 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
From someone who has been there. Loss of interest in work,life family,unable to share a joke with friends, lack of meaningful sleep, and thoughts of self harm. Help is freely avaible. Seek it out.
2007-01-30 15:02:33 · answer #8 · answered by breedgemh_101 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think Saved by Grace's answer is good. I have recently been diagosed with depression and all of these are true for me.
2007-01-30 15:07:11 · answer #9 · answered by dejavu_whatslovetodo 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No seriously, just don't get depressed. It's not worth it. Cheer up and get going.x
2007-01-30 15:18:41 · answer #10 · answered by maria z 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋