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could you please tell me signs of depression

2007-03-11 10:55:26 · 16 answers · asked by D M 1 in Family & Relationships Marriage & Divorce

16 answers

An Overview of Depression
Everyone feels "blue" at certain times during his or her life. In fact, transitory feelings of sadness or discouragement are perfectly normal, especially during particularly difficult times. But a person who cannot "snap out of it" or get over these feelings within two weeks may be suffering from the illness called depression.

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Writer Andrew Solomon talks about his book on depression The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression. He draws on personal experience as well as interviews with patients, physicians, philosophers and drug designers.

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Depression is one of the most common and treatable of all mental illnesses. In any six-month period, 9.4 million Americans (340 million people in the world) suffer from this disease. One in four women and one in 10 men can expect to develop it during their lifetime. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings. Eighty to 90 percent of those who suffer from depression can be effectively treated, and nearly all people who receive treatment derive some benefit.

Unfortunately, many fail to recognize the illness and get the treatment that would alleviate their suffering. They or their loved ones fail to notice a pattern and instead may attribute the physical symptoms to "the flu," the sleeping and eating problems to "stress," and the emotional problems to lack of sleep or improper eating.

But if people looked at all of these symptoms together and noticed that they occur over long periods of time, they might recognize them as signs of depression.

What Is Depression?
The term "depression" can be confusing since it's often used to describe normal emotional reactions. At the same time, the illness may be hard to recognize because its symptoms may be so easily attributed to other causes. People tend to deny the existence of depression by saying things like, "She has a right to be depressed! Look at what she's gone through." This attitude fails to recognize that people can go through tremendous hardships and stress without developing depression, and that those who suffer from depression can and should seek treatment.

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What is Depression and How is it Treated?


Nearly everyone suffering from depression has pervasive feelings of sadness. In addition, depressed people may feel helpless, hopeless, and irritable. You should seek professional help if you or someone you know has had four or more of the following symptoms continually or most of the time for more than two weeks:

Noticeable change of appetite, with either significant weight loss not attributable to dieting or weight gain.
Noticeable change in sleeping patterns, such as fitful sleep, inability to sleep, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much.
Loss of interest and pleasure in activities formerly enjoyed.
Loss of energy, fatigue.
Feelings of worthlessness.
Persistent feelings of hopelessness.
Feelings of inappropriate guilt.
Inability to concentrate or think, indecisiveness.
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide, wishing to die, or attempting suicide. (Note: People suffering this symptom should receive treatment immediately!)
Melancholia (defined as overwhelming feelings of sadness and grief), accompanied by waking at least two hours earlier than normal in the morning, feeling more depressed in the morning, and moving significantly more slowly.
Disturbed thinking, a symptom developed by some severely depressed persons. For example, severely depressed people sometimes have beliefs not based in reality about physical disease, sinfulness, or poverty.
Physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches.
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For many victims of depression, these mental and physical feelings seem to follow them night and day, appear to have no end, and are not alleviated by happy events or good news. Some people are so disabled by feelings of despair that they cannot even build up the energy to call a doctor. If someone else calls for them, they may refuse to go because they are so hopeless that they think there's no point to it.

Family, friends, and co-workers offer advice, help, and comfort. But over time, they become frustrated with victims of depression because their efforts are to no avail. The person won't follow advice, refuses help, and denies the comfort. But persistence can pay off.

More Info
Get Out and Get Screened for Depression

Choosing a Psychotherapist


Many doctors think depression is the illness that underlies the majority of suicides in our country. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in America; it is the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24. Every day 15 people aged 15 to 24 kill themselves. One of the best strategies for preventing suicide is the early recognition and treatment of the depression.

Depression can appear at any age. Current research suggests that treatable depression is very prevalent among children and adolescents, especially among offspring of adults with depression. Depression can also strike late in life, and its symptoms--including memory impairment, slowed speech, and slowed movement--may be mistaken for those of senility or stroke.

Scientists think that more than half of the people who have had one episode of major depression will have another at some point in their lives. Some victims have episodes separated by several years and others suffer several episodes of the disorder over a short period. Between episodes, they can function normally. However, 20 to 35 percent of the victims suffer chronic depression that prevents them from maintaining a normal routine.

Sadness at the loss of a loved one or over a divorce is normal, but these losses can also be the trigger for a depressive episode. In fact, most major environmental changes can trigger depression. Job promotions, moves to new areas, changes in living space--all can bring on depressive illness. New mothers sometimes suffer with post partum depression. Birth brings dramatic changes to both their environments and bodies--a combination that can trigger a downward swing in mood. Depression also afflicts many poor single working mothers of young children. These women live with loneliness, financial stress, and the unrelieved pressure of rearing children and maintaining a household without another's help.

2007-03-11 11:00:04 · answer #1 · answered by Mary O 6 · 1 1

Every person is different. Depression is tricky, and take many forms. For me, there simply were no emotional signs at all. I simpply slowed down significantly, every thought, action, and everything slowed down to where I went to the emergency room thinking I had a gas leak in my apartment. It slowly robbed me of living, and I hadn't even realized it.

Other people have emotional symptoms, like feeling blues, hopelessness, and so on.

If you suspect depression, get help. It is a serious condition that can be treated. There IS hope.

2007-03-11 11:06:53 · answer #2 · answered by fromorto12 2 · 1 0

Most people do not realize it when they are depressed. Some symptoms include changes in weight (loss or gain), no longer wanting to do things that once interested him (if he watched football games every weekend in the past and no longer finds any joy in it, for instance), loss of appetite, sadness, irritability, etc. Here is a link to a website that explains depression and its symptoms: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=18543. And there is a quiz at this website: https://j.ovm1.net/ahp1/effexor/consumer/quiz.aspx that lists many symptoms. If you can talk to him about it, ask if he would take the quiz. Perhaps if he has many of the symptoms, you can convince him to see his family doctor. I've struggled with depression myself, and have family members who also have dealt with it. It's not easy, and I wish you luck. Here are two links that have tips for dealing with depressed loved ones: http://www.webmd.com/solutions/sc/child-depressed/caregivers and http://www.realmentalhealth.com/depression/tips_08.asp.
Both of those articles have other links which you can research to learn more. Hang in there, and let us know what happens! :)

2007-03-11 11:09:43 · answer #3 · answered by Sue S 2 · 0 0

some can be, tiredness, lack of enjoyment in things, change in appetite.. He may not know he is depressed, may just feel fed up sometimes. A lot of the time people don't realise they are depressed until it gets pretty bad

2007-03-11 11:01:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

These are some signs & symptoms. Not all people know they have depression. If these symptoms last longer than a couple of weeks, it suggests depression. Lack of energy, tired all the time (fatigue), irritable, moody, quiet, or argumentative.
Some feel hopeless inside.

2007-03-11 11:00:43 · answer #5 · answered by Daiquiri Dream 6 · 0 0

Lethargy, losing interest in things that used to interest, withdrawing from people, change in sleep or eating habits, sickness that can't be tied to a physical illness.

Men may know we are depressed but won't admit it because its a sign of weakness.

2007-03-11 11:00:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

When we are on stress overload our bodies use more nutrients but we tend not to compensate., therefore our bodies become depressed and so do our emotions,which affects how we are dealing with crisis matters So I take B complex, vitamin c, magnesium. dlpa tablets and protein powder. Use lavender and ylang ylang aromatherapy and I listen to anti stress cd's and relaxing music. It's important to shut off the chattering mind so that you can find clarity about a situation that's needs sorting one way or another.

2007-03-11 11:24:15 · answer #7 · answered by SUE 1 · 0 0

lethargic
moody
non communicative
off food
cant sleep
cant see reason to get up in the morning
aggro phobic
stops socialising with friends
unable to look forward to things
don't want to do anything
it goes on and on.....

People will tell you to go see your doctor who will put you on anti depressants
I think sorting your problems one by one and dealing with things that get you down is the best way its your mind and your thoughts or actions made it sad therefore you need to focus on those thoughts in a positive way and see how you can do things differently
Action find the strength you seem to have lost we all have the ability to climb out of any dark hole it's not easy but you have to make yourself.
Sort out one problem everyday and surround yourself with positive people or a good positive book and I am sure you will climb out of your hole.
I wish you lots of luck and send you lots of positive energy to bring out the magic in your mind. peace

2007-03-12 06:54:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

he may not know the reasons for his low mood.
symptoms can be:
weight gain/loss
loss of appetite
crying
headaches
unexplained physical pain
withdrawn
feelings of hopelessness/dispair
insomnia
nightmares

this isnt an exhaustive list.
dont be afraid to get help from a gp or a trusted friend or family member who will listen

2007-03-11 11:00:39 · answer #9 · answered by missycpblonde 1 · 0 0

you don't feel like doing anything and when you do, you feel so tired that you don't do it. It is a viscous cycle, oh yea, you also get lots of headaches. I went through that once and I cured it by getting out and doing stuff. Getting a job, new hobby, or working out (exercise in general) got me out of it.

2007-03-11 11:01:56 · answer #10 · answered by caballero5792 4 · 0 0

My boyfriend is bi-polar and have been with him for 2 years, and signs i have seen is sleeping a lot, distancing himself from people, doesnt care about things like he would, mood swings

2007-03-11 12:28:12 · answer #11 · answered by Renee 4 · 0 0

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