Physical Symptoms Of Depression
Depression is not exclusively a mental illness. It affects the body as well as the mind and can be a contributing factor to many health conditions, ranging from heart disease to digestive problems to frequent headaches. Bodily pain that doesn’t respond to medical treatment is also a common signal of depression.
Beyond this, many people who are feeling depressed are prone to fatigue and difficulty concentrating. As with other depression cues, there are varying possible reasons for these symptoms. However, if they persist for a long time, something may be wrong, and it may be time to consult with a therapist for guidance.
The Warning Signs Of Seasonal Affective Depression And What You Can Do
Sydney Zatz KAALTV
They call it winter blues when you feel more sluggish or moody during the winter months, but that can actually be a sign of something more serious going on, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.
You might notice yourself sleeping more, being less social, or having low energy. Doctors at Mayo Clinic said its normal to feel sluggish in winter. When it comes to the point of impacting our day-to-day functions, thats when it starts to become SAD.
For some people, they may experience this in early fall, that kind of like mid-late September where the weather is still fairly pleasant and for other people, this might not hit until like mid-January, said Dr. Craig Sawchuk, a psychologist at Mayo Clinic.
SAD happens because of a chemical change in the brain. When your body naturally makes more melatonin because its dark. A sleep-related hormone.
Some folks might be more vulnerable to that. In return, with more exposure to light, that helps to regulate the system more.
Most are probably familiar with Winter Seasonal Affective Disorder, but it can also happen in Summer. Those symptoms include trouble sleeping, weight loss, and increased irritability. But how do you know these feelings are seasonal, rather than a sign of long-term depression?
Its normal to have days when you feel down. If you cant get motivated to do things you normally enjoy, thats when you should see a doctor.
The Physical Signs Of Depression
While its important we dont self-diagnose ourselves or others, and acknowledge that depression feels different for everyone, common signs include:
- lack of energy, tiredness, and/or fatigue
- restlessness and agitation
Some people externalise their feelings of depression and become irritable and angry, while others may internalise their feelings and become sad and withdrawn. Some people may do a combination of the two, or alternate between them.
Its important not to stereotype. Every persons experience is different. What matters is how much these feelings impact someones ability to function, and whether theyre getting worse, becoming painful, or getting difficult to manage.
Depression doesnt always have an obvious trigger. But it can also develop as a response to difficult circumstances. Stress can trigger depression, and exacerbate and prolong it.
If you recognise some of the above symptoms in yourself, you may feel pretty helpless right now. But there is hope!
Most people recover from bouts of depression. Some people even look back on it as an experience that helped them take stock of their life and make changes.
Start by talking to friends and family, then consider seeing your GP, who can explore further options with you.
Georgina
Recommended Reading: How To Stop A Depression Spiral
What Are The Signs Of Depression
Transcript:
As I think first and foremost, isolation. Isolation if you notice that you just tend to isolate and withdraw. And that can look like a number of different things. It can look like sleeping all the time. It can look like not returning phone calls, not reaching out to friends and family. Thatâs a pretty significant sign.
Next would be not enjoying some of the things that you previously enjoyed. So not really being able to find satisfaction in life. So some of the things whether itâs going out to eat or going to see a movie. Or doing some things that generally would maybe evoke good feelings are more mutual flat kind of feelings and experience.
And then the next thing is being overwhelmed or inundated by some of the smaller things. So where things maybe like balancing your checkbook or going for a walk, or going to the grocery store. Things that most of the time wouldnât necessarily feel like a huge ordeal become more paralyzing, become more overwhelming, become more challenging to deal with. And so those are symptoms and signs that you maybe struggling with something with respect to depression.
We’re Here To Help You Care For Your Mental Health. Contact Us Today To Book Your Appointment.
What Are The Symptoms Of Depression And How Is It Diagnosed
The NHS recommends that you should see your GP if you experience symptoms of depression for most of the day, every day, for more than 2 weeks.
Doctors make decisions about diagnosis based on manuals. The manual used by NHS doctors is the International Classification of Diseases .
When you see a doctor they will look for the symptoms that are set out in the ICD-10 guidance. You do not have to have all of these to be diagnosed with depression. You might have just experience some of them.
Some symptoms of depression are:
- low mood, feeling sad, irritable or angry,
- having less energy to do certain things,
- losing interest or enjoyment in activities you used to enjoy,
- reduced concentration,
You may also find that with low mood you:
- feel less pleasure from things,
- feel more agitated,
- find your thoughts and movements slow down, and
- have thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Your doctor should also ask about any possible causes of depression. For example, they may want to find out if youve experienced anything traumatic recently which could be making you feel this way.
There are no physical tests for depression. But the doctors may do some tests to check if you have any physical problems. For example, an underactive thyroid can cause depression.
On the NHS website, they have a self-assessment test which can help you to assess whether you are living with depression: www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/clinical-depression/overview/
You May Like: How To Get Out Of Mental Depression
What Risks And Complications Can Depression Cause
Having depression can cause other problems. It can affect your mental health as well as your physical health, and it may affect other areas of your life too. For example, depression may cause:
- disturbed sleep,
- difficulties with work and your hobbies,
- difficulties keeping contact with friends and families, or
- suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harming.
Some people might also drink more alcohol to try and relieve depression. However, as we said in the previous section above, this can actually make depression worse.
If you have any of these problems, speak to your GP.
Online Therapy Is A Popular Option
As mentioned, online therapy is a popular modern treatment option. It has been proven to be as effective at treating depression with CBT as in-person sessions, and a review of recent studies on CBT reports that online CBT leads to significant decreases in symptoms of anxiety and depression.
But online therapy has other benefits, too. Some people feel uncomfortable with speaking with an in-person therapist and prefer the option of meeting online. This is understandable, particularly for those who struggle with interacting with others. Meeting up with a therapist online eliminates the anxiety some experience over having to speak to other patients in a waiting room or along the commute to and from the visit.
If you need assistance in between sessions, you may reach out and your therapist will contact you as soon as possible.
Also Check: Tablets For Depression And Anxiety
Less Obvious Suicide Warning Signs
Unfortunately, there are also signs of suicide that are easy to miss. Even people close to the person feeling suicidal may not realize how deeply hopeless they feel. Here are five signs you need to know about that could indicate someone is thinking about suicide:
Begin Your Recovery Journey.
Are There Other Therapies To Treat Symptoms Of Depression
There are other treatments your doctor may consider. Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, is a treatment option for people whose symptoms don’t get better with medicine or who have severe depression and need treatment right away.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, involves using a noninvasive device that is held above the head to induce the magnetic field. It targets a specific part of the brain that can trigger depression.
With vagus nerve stimulation, or VMS, a pacemaker-like device is surgically implanted under the collarbone to deliver regular impulses to the brain.
Also Check: Is Procrastination A Sign Of Depression
What You Could Say
These phrases might help if youre not sure what to say:
- Do you want to talk about it? Im here whenever youre ready.”
- What can I do to help today?
- Youre not alone, even if I dont completely understand how you feel.
- Youre important to me.
- That sounds hard. How are you managing?
- Im sorry youre experiencing this Im here for you.
Thoughts Of Death Or Suicide
A person with depression may think more about death and dying. They may also think about suicide and how they could end their life. The term for this is suicidal ideation .
Sometimes, a person may tell others about these thoughts. If someone is talking about death or suicide, this could be their way of asking for help, and it is vital to seek assistance right away.
Depression is a common but serious condition that can be life threatening. Not every person who thinks about suicide will attempt it. However, if someone mentions suicide, it is important either to contact a doctor or to help the person seek urgent medical care.
You May Like: Devotionals For Depression And Anxiety
Other Types Of Depression
There are different types of depression, and some conditions where depression may be one of the symptoms. These include:
- postnatal depression sometimes new mothers, fathers or partners develop depression after they have a baby this is known as postnatal depression and it’s treated in a similar way to other types of depression, with talking therapies and antidepressant medicines
- bipolar disorder also known as “manic depression”, in bipolar disorder there are spells of both depression and excessively high mood the depression symptoms are similar to clinical depression, but the bouts of mania can include harmful behaviour, such as gambling, going on spending sprees and having unsafe sex
- seasonal affective disorder also known as “winter depression”, SAD is a type of depression with a seasonal pattern usually related to winter
Before We Go Much Further If You’re Feeling Suicidal Watch This
Depression is common in individuals who suffer with migraines and chronic pain.
It is not just a low mood. Depression is a serious medical conditionthat can reduce everyday normal functioning to become virtuallyimpossible.
Participating in any of the activities or being with the people they once used to enjoy, can become unbearable.
There are visible depression warning signs shown in changesof behavior, physical reactions and the not so visible emotionalsymptoms.
Everyone deals with it differently, but the signs are there if you know what to look for.
We all have a low day now and again and life’s events alone can leave us feelingquite miserable and down.
The problem arises when these lowfeelings persist for a long time causing changes in mood and behaviorsthat can then develop into a deeper depression.
One in five people will experience some kind of depression in their lifetime.
According to the Beyondblue organization here in Australia, your depression checklist can be an important indicator of what stage you might be in on the depression scale.
Have a look so you can know the depression warning signs before they take you by surprise and its too late.
Contents:
You May Like: How Do I Know If Im Suffering From Depression
How You Can Support A Loved One Feeling Depressed
If several of the above signs apply to someone you know, they may well have depression.
They may not have spoken to anybody about their concerns, or even realise thats what theyre experiencing, so try to encourage them to open up and talk about how they feel.
Be careful how you approach the subject. Statements such as, cheer up or pull yourself together arent helpful and can make people defensive.
Instead, focus on listening. You may not feel qualified to offer any advice, and thats ok. Its not about finding solutions to everything theyre feeling its about reminding them that theyre not alone and youre there to support them.
It can be difficult for someone suffering from depression to communicate. So do your best to encourage them to talk and listen without judgment.
Just listening in a non-judgmental way, and allowing them to articulate their feelings, can be invaluable.
Depression: How To Spot The Signs And Offer Support
Depression is often used to describe someone having a bad day, or experiencing short-term low mood. But its much more than that. Here, well take a look at the emotional, mental, and physical signs of depression so that you know what to look out for.
1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem every year. Even if you’re experiencing good mental health, you may know or be supporting someone affected by a mental health condition.
Depression is a common mental health disorder that affects people of all ages. But some of us are more susceptible than others.
Studies show that people who are less well off, have long-term or chronic illnesses, and people who are out of work are more likely to have depression.
So what is depression? Too often, people say they’re depressed when they feel fed up, or when things in their lives aren’t going as well as theyd like them to. And equally often, after a few days, these feelings disappear.
Medically speaking, depression is when how you feel starts to make your life more difficult. Your low mood, or feelings of emptiness/disconnection, last more than a few weeks, or keep coming back.
You May Like: Drugs That Cause Depression List
Know The Warning Signs Of Depression
If youre feeling overwhelmed because of the changes to our lives brought on by the COVID-19 public health emergency, youre not alone. Many people have reported anxiety or stress after a traumatic event.
Over the last year, people have also reported difficulty sleeping, greater alcohol consumption or substance use, and worsening chronic conditions due to worry and stress over the virus. These symptoms, combined with upsetting events like job loss or the death of a loved one, can lead to depression.
Causes And Risk Factors
While some illnesses have a specific medical cause, making treatment straightforward, depression is far more complicated. Certain medications, such as barbiturates, corticosteroids, benzodiazepines, opioid painkillers, and specific blood pressure medicine can trigger symptoms in some peopleas can hypothyroidism . But most commonly, depression is caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors that can vary wildly from one person to another.
Despite what you may have seen in TV ads, read in newspaper articles, or maybe even heard from a doctor, depression is not just the result of a chemical imbalance in the brain, having too much or too little of any brain chemical that can be simply cured with medication. Biological factors can certainly play a role in depression, including inflammation, hormonal changes, immune system suppression, abnormal activity in certain parts of the brain, nutritional deficiencies, and shrinking brain cells. But psychological and social factorssuch as past trauma, substance abuse, loneliness, low self-esteem, and lifestyle choicescan also play an enormous part.
Don’t Miss: I Need Help I Feel Depressed
How Long Do Most Depressive Episodes Last
A: The duration of a depressive episode varies and is influenced by its severity, as well as treatment and individual factors. However, the average length of a depressive episode is thought to be six to eight months.
How do I know if Im mentally unstable?
Symptoms
What is a mental breakdown?
The term mental breakdown is often used when a person has a mental health crisis that overcomes their emotions. It can stem from other conditions like depression and anxiety but tends to be a severe case.
Lets Dive Into The Three Most Common Warning Signs Of Seasonal Depression
Emotional and Depressed During Winter Months
The winter months are often associated with spending time with loved ones and enjoying the festive season. However, when you dont enjoy being surrounded by your friends and family and have feelings of hopelessness, you may be suffering from seasonal depression. The reduced level of sunlight in the fall and winter is often the culprit of seasonal depression.
Also Check: Uv Light Therapy For Depression
Risk Factors For Suicide
Not all people with risk factors will be suicidal. In addition to depression or other mental illness, risk factors for suicide include:
- Current or past history of substance abuse
- Past history of suicide attempt
- Family history of suicide
- Family history of mental illness or substance abuse
- Firearms in the home
- Feelings of hopelessness