Signs of Depression

Depression

Depression is very common. In any twelve month period almost one in ten of everyone you meet will suffer from some form of depression. Depression is a distressing disorder that causes suffering for the people who have it and for their friends and relatives. Often the person who has the depression is not aware of it.

Depression comes with a bewildering range of symptoms and can range in severity from feeling down occasionally to total inability to function. The most serious forms of depression, unipolar and bipolar depression, are life threatening disorders and require treatment by a registered psychiatrist.
This page is about mild depression, a disorder which stops people enjoying life to the full, but which does not stop them from functioning normally in society. Mild depression responds extremely well to hypnosis and cognitive therapy.

How do you know if someone has depression?

Most people would think of a depressed person as someone who lies in bed weeping for days at a time. Certainly there are people like that, but that is not the normal experience of depression. People can go through their whole life and be quite unaware that they actually have depression.

Most people with a depressive type of illness never seek treatment even though treatment is available and effective. Most of the people who have depression carry a mild form called dysthymia, and if they think about it at all, think "well, that's just the way life is, I suppose everyone feels like this". They might occasionally wonder why things seem so hard for them but blame it on themselves and just get on with life as best they can. The tragedy is that for huge numbers of people simple interpersonal therapy could make an immense difference to their quality of life.

Bear in mind that everybody's moods change over days and weeks and it's quite normal to feel 'down' occasionally: it doesn't mean you are ill.

Symptoms of Depression

These symptoms are associated with depression, they are not definite predictors. Several have to be present together and for a long time before depression can be identified as the problem. It is unlikely that any one person would have all of these symptoms.

Chronic Anxiety

Almost all depressed people have anxiety
but not all anxious people have depression

Sleeping Problems

Disturbed sleep of various kinds
particularly waking early and being unable to get back to sleep

Loss of interest in life

A general slowing down of thought, speech and movement
Lack of energy and constant tiredness
Inability to enjoy things
Loss of appetite, weight swings
Reduced interest in sex

Lack of feelings

Emotional flatness or emptiness
Inability to feel pleasure
Loss of warm feelings for family and friends
Unable to recall any happy memories

Poor self esteem

Low self-esteem
Lack of interest in the future
Loss of identity
Lack of care about dress, appearance

Sense of Failure

Feelings of hopelessness and despair
Unrealistic sense of failure
Feelings of guilt
Blaming self for things going wrong
Going over past hurts, failures, wrongs

Change in mood during the day

People often feel much better as the day goes on
(but can be the other way around)
Complaining about trivial things

Emotional Outbursts

Tearfulness for no reason
Irritability
Anger at minor things

Negative thoughts

Loneliness, even when around others
Becoming preoccupied with illness
Thoughts of death and suicide

Lack of Focus

Loss of concentration
Difficulty making decisions
Poor memory

What can be done

The first thing to do is to see your doctor if you think a lot of these items apply to you.

Exercise: Vigorous exercise is a good antidote to depression

Diet: Healthy balanced eating also helps to prevent depression

Socialise: Making an effort to go out and mix with people socially helps

Think Positively: Learn to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.