The emotional effects of depression in men and women can look much different. For instance, an outsider may see a man struggling with depression as angry and irritable, whereas an outsider may see a woman struggling with depression as sad and hopeless. However, men and women usually experience similar physical characteristics of depression, which can interfere with a person's social life, career or school work and family.
Sleep Issues
When someone is depressed, she may have issues sleeping. She could have insomnia and not be able to fall asleep or spend most of her day sleeping. She might not be able to get out of bed in the morning to go to work or school due to fatigue and always feeling drowsy. Someone depressed may complain to friends and family members that she slept for over eight hours but still feels fatigued on a regular basis or she might say that she wakes up every morning at three and can't go back to sleep.
Weight
Many people who suffer from depression have issues with eating. They may have no appetite and constantly skip meals or overeat on a regular basis. It's common for someone suffering from depression to experience significant weight loss or weight gain.
Concentration
A person's ability to concentrate is usually severely affected by depression. He might have a hard time completing projects at work, find himself drifting off when his spouse is talking and forget important deadlines or dates. One reason that people have issues concentrating when depressed is due to fatigue, sleep issues and restlessness. This can impact a person's social life, relationships with family members and career. This can also lead to difficulty making decisions. Someone depressed may find it hard to decide what to have for dinner or what shirt to wear to work.
Low Libido
Someone experiencing depression loses interest in things that used to be pleasurable, including sex. If you used to have a healthy sex life but currently lack the desire to have intercourse along with other signs of depression such as sadness and worthlessness, you might be suffering from depression. However, there are many medical explanations for having a low libido, which could increase a person's level of depression.
Health Issues
Some people have unexplained health issues when depressed. For instance, a person may have constant headaches, back pain or feel nauseous often. Someone experiencing depression and not realizing what it is might go to her doctor to seek treatment for these physical ailments and not be able to find a cause. The doctor may ask about other symptoms of depression if he can't find medical causes for the health issues.
