Extreme sadness that affects day-to-day activities often is a sign of depression vs. normal grief or sadness. Doctors at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) report that depression is a mental illness that must be treated with therapy and medication. It cannot be changed through self-will and determination. While depression can cause severe pain for the person who is ill as well as for his family and friends, many people do not know how to recognize the signs that someone is depressed and in need of treatment.
Emotional
Signs of depression vary from person to person and depend on the type of depression each one has. The severity, duration and frequency of the emotional signs often determine the best form of treatment. Most people with depression have a persistent sad, empty feeling most of the time. They often express feelings of emptiness and hopelessness. Depressed people often feel guilty for no reason and helpless to change.
Physical
Eating habits often change when a person is depressed and that can involve overeating or refusing to eat. Eating disorders such as obesity and anorexia often are other conditions associated with depression, according to NIMH. Sleep is disrupted as well. While some people have trouble waking up and sleep for days on end, others cannot sleep and experience various forms of insomnia. Physical signs of depression include persistent headaches or digestive disorders that do not respond to treatment. Pain of any kind becomes intensified when people become depressed.
Social
A common sign of depression that is noticed by others is when the affected person suddenly loses interest in activities that once excited or pleased him. Depressed people tend to withdraw from society and prefer to isolate. Often those who are depressed even lose interest in sex. In an effort to self-medicate, people suffering from depression often turn to alcohol or drugs, NIMH reports.
Risks
Depression can be a side effect of other debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. People going through cancer treatments or who have heart disease or AIDS often become depressed. Those who have suffered from other traumatic events such as going blind or losing a limb may become depressed. Major loss and life changes such as divorce or job loss can trigger depression in those with a physical predisposition to the illness. People who have other co-occurring anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobias or post-traumatic stress disorder often have accompanying signs of depression.
