HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · MAY 2018 |
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WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION ?Am I suffering from it ? Depression is a common debilitating mood disorder that goes beyond a feeling of sadness after a setback or a troubling event . Depression deeply impacts other aspects of your life . It can stymie your productivity and creativity . It can interfere with your personal relationships . It can hamper your ability to work , study , sleep , eat , and your ability to enjoy life . Often , it will leave you feeling helpless and worthless . The feelings can be so intense that you fear you ’ ll never find relief . It severely alters your day-to-day life . Many people compare it to what it would be like to live in a black hole . People have described it as feeling like they or their lives are empty .
It ’ s important to remember that no two people present in the same way . Feelings may vary from person to person . Depression goes beyond the normal ups and downs of life . The intense feelings of sadness differentiate it from everyday woes : the feelings are stronger .
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If you worry that you might be suffering from depression , there are some common symptoms to pay attention to :
01 Overwhelming feelings of helplessness . A bleak , dark outlook on life .
Loss of
02 interest in daily activities . You ’ re no longer interested in partaking in your favorite hobbies or pastimes . You shy away from social activities and / or sex .03 Significant weight loss or weight gain . Significant is classified as a change of more than 5 % in either direction .
Insomnia or
04 oversleeping . Waking up many times per night . Inability to fall or stay asleep . |
Increased
05 anger or irritability ; Lashing out at people , spontaneous explosive episodes .06 Sluggishness , fatigue , or a feeling of being physically drained .
07 Reckless behavior . Hyper-sexualization , risk-taking , fascination with doing things that could cause harm . Chemical dependence . Increased alcohol consumption .
Problems with
08 concentration . Inability to focus or concentrate on tasks .09 Unexplained aches and pains . Body pains , lethargy , nausea , headaches .
10 Self-loathing . Self-hatred . |
If you ’ re experiencing any of the above symptoms , make an appointment with your healthcare provider to determine a course of action .
Men are less likely to acknowledge the above feelings . They are more likely to complain about fatigue , sleep problems , or irritability . Women are more likely to experience pronounced feelings of guilty , overeating , weight gain , and sleep issues . Hormonal factors play a significant role in women as well . Teenagers are more likely to exhibit signs of anger , agitation , inability to concentrate , and body pains . Mature adults most often will complain of physical symptoms like fatigue , unexplained aches , and pains and memory problems . They are more likely to forgo personal care . They may suddenly decide to stop bathing or taking their medications or ignore things they ’ ve done regularly for their entire lives .
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Depression comes in many forms such as major depression , atypical depression , dysthymia ( recurrent , mild depression ), Seasonal Affective Disorder ( SAD ), and post-partum depression . |
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By Tarah Johansson |
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10 HEALTHY MAGAZINE |