Depression is a very real problem that many people go through without even realizing it. A study made by the National Library of Medicine revealed that 20 million people suffer from depression in the United States alone.
Depression can happen to anyone – male, female, young or old. In fact, about 26.2 percent of Americans from ages 18 and up can suffer from a mental disorder that can be diagnosable. That’s one in four adults. Depression can be diagnosed and if you know the symptoms of depression, you can identify if you or a loved one is suffering from it.
Here are some of the more common symptoms of depression.
Sleeping problems
A person suffering from depression will suddenly have difficulties with their sleeping habits. This can go to either extreme. There are those who will find it extremely difficult to sleep, while there are those who will find themselves sleeping all day. Another symptom would be to wake up in the middle of the night, every night.
Changes in weight
Depression can affect a person’s weight. Some will experience unexplained weight loss, while other will gain weight. It should be noted that there are some depression sufferers who will resort to food as a way of dealing with their depression.
Body aches
A common belief about depression is that it is a purely psychological disorder and that it won’t have any kind of physical manifestations. But this is entirely untrue. There are people who suffer from depression who do exhibit physical symptoms. This include feelings of nausea, a weakened immune system that manifests in persistent colds and flu, general aches in the body, and the worsening of existing conditions like arthritis.
Heightened emotionality
Depression sufferers are prone to become more emotional. They are more prone to anger and can be extremely irritable.
Problems with concentration
An inability to focus on the task at hand is another symptom of depression. A person who’s depressed will have problems dealing with tasks. They won’t care much about their responsibilities and this could lead to problems at work.
These are just some of the symptoms of depression you should look out for. If you think a person you know needs help with depression, contact a health professional and ask for advice on how to handle the situation.
Originally posted on April 20, 2012 @ 4:13 pm