Signs Someone Is Depressed

Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects a person's mood, his physical appearance and the people around him. Knowing the signs of depression is necessary so you can try to get the depressed person help before the depression gets worse.

Different Attitudes

A person who is depressed may seem irritated or agitated. Even little things may cause the person to act irrationally. The person may go from treating his friends and family well to periods of lashing out at them. A depressed person may express feelings of worthlessness, sadness or guilt.

Sleep Changes

Depression often affects sleep patterns. Insomnia may become a problem; however, hypersomnia, or sleeping too much, may also be a problem. These altered sleep patterns may cause extreme fatigue or difficulty making decisions.

Weight Fluctuations

Major weight loss or weight gain are signs of depression. "Surviving Depression" notes that the weight fluctuations often equate to more than 5 percent of the person's body weight. Prior to noticing the weight fluctuations, you may notice that the person's eating habits have changed. He may eat a lot more or a lot less than normal.

Activity Changes

Changes in activity are common for someone with depression. Activities that were once enjoyed may now be avoided. If the person does participate in activities, he may not show the same level of interest or participate as fully as he did before becoming depressed. Another sign is if the person begins hanging out with a crowd that is involved in drugs or alcohol.

Emergency Symptoms

If a person expresses thoughts of suicide or a desire to harm himself, he needs emergency mental health help. The same is true for someone who expresses a desire to harm someone else. Depression isn't always the cause of these problems; however, in some cases, these signs are the first sign of depression.