Detecting Signs of Depression Early
Everyone experiences bouts of sadness or the blues once in a while. It is normal to feel sad due to grief for a lost relative or loved one, or due to disappointments and failure like losing a job. But sometimes, the sadness lingers for a long time, coupled with other symptoms that are more than normal unhappiness. Depression may be caused by traumatic events such as the death of a parent. But in many cases, there is no single cause and the reason may be an accumulation of various experiences.
It is important to detect signs of clinical depression early so treatment and medication can begin immediately. The normal day-to-day life and even the relationships of a person with clinical depression are already negatively affected.
You are most likely suffering from clinical depression if you have been experiencing five or more signs of depression in two weeks or more.
Signs of depression may be emotional. People suffering from depression experience feelings of sadness or despair, emptiness, hopelessness, frustration, anger, and lack of motivation for a prolonged period of time. They no longer have any enthusiasm and do not feel happy or have fun even when doing things they used to love doing. They may also easily lose their temper, get irritable, and cry uncontrollably or many times throughout the day. Another sign of depression is constantly being filled with worry and negative thoughts.
The emotional signs of depression are commonly coupled with physical stress. Those suffering from depression experience problems with sleeping – they may oversleep and be lethargic or they may suffer from insomnia. Similarly, they experience eating disorders, either eating more or less than usual, and this usually leads to weight gain or weight loss. Sometimes, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, and backaches may also be signs of depression.
These signs of depression should not be disregarded. Recognizing these signs early could prevent causing grave damage to your work and relationships and help you get back on track sooner.
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