What Are The Symptoms Of Depression
In today’s increasingly harried and fast moving social environment, the signs of depression are seemingly all around us. What is depression and how it may be medically defined has been the subject of some controversy over the years.
In modern times, the accepted medical recognition and consequent definition of what is depression generally runs a bit deeper than the average “feeling blue” or “always down this time of year”.
In fact, the definition of what is depression has expanded considerably from that which was accepted only a few short years ago, both in terms of accepted diagnosis and treatment of depression symptoms, but also as to the number and nature of these depression symptoms themselves. Signs of depression point to many origins.
What Is Depression?
Although perhaps few of us on our own can give a completely logical definition of what is depression, almost all of us have felt sad or down or “blue” at any number of times in our life, most of which constitute a normal, healthy reaction to the loss of a friend, pet, or loved one, or in response to a loss of “face” or confidence or self esteem. However, when persistent, unavoidable periods of intense, unrelieved sadness prevail upon us, inducing feelings of personal worthlessness accompanied by helplessness and, in some cases, even hopelessness, these irredeemably negative sensations may be something more than the blues. These may well be symptoms of what is depression, a medically recognized chronic illness which, however, is eminently treatable in many (if not most) cases.
What is depression in medical terms? It is an illness which exacts a deleterious toll on health and productivity, at home and in the workplace. Symptoms and manifestations of what is depression may affect upwards of 20 million American children and adults, and is currently the nation’s leading cause of disability for those aged 15 to 45. Indeed, the loss of “productive” time generated by American employees has been estimated to be upwards of $30 billion per annum. In addition, what is depression (only too frequently ignored or self-misdiagnosed) can coexist with a number of other medical ailments such cancer, chronic pain, and congestive heart disease. Depression also manifests itself alarmingly in the number of suicides each year, ranking as the 11th leading cause of death in America (third overall among both sexes aged 15-25).
Symptoms of what is depression may constitute some or all of the following: dramatic weight gain or loss, a depressed, gloomy mood during most of the day (especially in the mornings), prolonged, inescapable feelings of guilt, self-hatred,, or worthlessness, an relentless sense of restlessness or rootlessness, impaired ability to remember or concentrate (frequently coupled with chronic indecisiveness), insomnia or its opposite, frequent oversleeping, and unavoidably recurring thoughts or fantasies of death and suicide.
Perhaps the most telling signs of what is depression in the clinical or major variety is an extended gloomy, negative mood coupled with loss of interest in activities such as sports, meeting regularly with family or friends, or sexual activity. In order to earn a diagnosis of what is depression, these symptoms should prevail for an extended period over the course of two to three weeks. These symptoms of what is depression will likely also be causing mental distress and anguish, as well as some degree of faculty impairment (interfering with one’s work performance, for example). These symptoms will not be traceable to the effects of medication, or to a medical condition such as hypothyroidism. If such symptoms should occur within a short time after losing a loved one, they will most likely not be considered as manifestations of clinical depression.
What Are The Symptoms Of Depression?
To begin, it may be asked, exactly what is depression, what are the signs of depression, and what constitutes the symptomology of a recognizable depressive illness? Sandra Salmans has popularly defined what is depression as “a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person’s thoughts, behavior, feelings, and physical well-being. It is true that symptoms of depression may arise as an expected reaction to certain unavoidable events in life, i.e., losing out on a job promotion, the death of a loved one, a reaction to being diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness. Symptoms of what is sometimes characterized as a “temporary” case of depression can arise as a result of certain medical conditions such as hypothyroidism or Addison’s disease, or as a reaction to certain treatment regimens of diseases such as Hepatitis C. In other words, signs of depression may show where no such illness is actually present.
Depression symptoms vary slightly in each patient, but overall, certain trends are apparent, and these usually show themselves after a thorough check-up and diagnosis delivered by a responsible physician. These depression symptoms can likewise vary from mild to acute to severe and, if left untreated, can lead to a host of alarming physical and psychical manifestations, with suicidal thoughts and actions ranking high on the list of potential side effects. The signs of depression are not to be taken lightly.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression symptoms can include (but are not limited to) such features as a persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood, feelings of hopelessness and pessimism toward the future, or self-impressions of guilt, helplessness, or even simple worthlessness. These depression symptoms can be frequently accompanied by a loss of interest in hobbies and other activities which were once quite recognizably enjoyable (sports, political activities, even sex), decreased energy, difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or even remembering things.
Depression symptoms can also include issues with insomnia, as well as dramatic changes in appetite, accompanied by disproportionate gains or losses in weight. At the very least, depression symptoms can consist of seemingly minor maladies which are, at least in the initial stages, simply ignored or misdiagnosed (frequently by oneself), such as increasing nervousness and irritability, or the increasing prevalence of persistent physical symptoms (psychosomatic) such as headaches, digestive and bowel disorders, and chronic pains which do not respond to the routine treatment of a physician. These, and many others, may be taken as signs of depression, if other evidence is available and points to the same conclusion.
More Signs Of Depression
As seen above, the symptoms of depression are many, and vary in frequency, severity, and the very noticeability of its manifestations, according to a huge number of factors. Symptoms of depression can also coincide with the condition of mania, which manifests as an exacerbated form of depressive disorder. These symptoms of depression-cum-mania may include a decreased need for sleep, delusions of grandeur, excessive excitability, loss of judgment and “common sense” decision making power, and the inability to “think straight” or concentrate on a single subject for a sufficient length of time. These particular symptoms of depression can be seen to form almost a complete contrast with several other symptoms of depression as listed above, conclusively proving that this disorder is a particularly wide ranging one, with many varieties and offshoots, often encompassing many related illnesses as well.
For example, research has shown that symptoms of depression can manifest in relation to other disorders, such as panic disorder, agoraphobia as well its polar and complimentary opposite claustrophobia, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), obsessive compulsive disorder, and many substance abuse disorders. Recent research suggests that individuals who struggle with long term alcoholism are almost twice as likely to suffer from major depression that those who have never, or only “socially”, imbibed. Also, symptoms of depression famously manifest themselves in those who suffer from bipolar disorder type I (severe mania), especially those who maintain an ongoing substance abuse disorder.
In particular, among the aforementioned sufferers of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), depression can co-manifest alongside this illness in the form of related instances including unpleasant flashback episodes, unavoidable dwelling on bitter or violent memories, disturbances in normal sleep patterns (insomnia, increased need for sleep, nightmares), emotional detachment from spouses, loved ones, or friends, and general irritability, including outbursts of irrational anger or rage, sometimes with violent results and unforeseen consequences. In a study recently conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 40 percent of individuals who had been diagnosed with PTSD also tended to suffer from the chronic effects of major or minor depression.
In conclusion, just what is depression? Depression symptoms can range from loss of appetite to excessive gluttony. The symptoms of depression can include excessive rage as easily as interminable melancholy. Signs of depression are not always easy to see, but can also be vastly overrated. It remains, however, a crippling malady for millions of average citizens, and should never be taken lightly or dismissed as simply “the way things are”. Treatment is available, and results are quite promising.
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