The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health estimates there are 26 million adult Americans (almost 25 percent of all American adults) who suffer from clinical depression in any one year. There is no one cause or one certain cure for depression, and no two people will experience the same set of depression symptoms in the same way. Awareness of the signs and symptoms and general mindfulness of your own "normal" moods and feelings are key ingredients to catching depression early and managing this common, potentially debilitating mental illness.
Emotional Signs
When thinking of depression, most people think of the sadness or changes in feelings that can often be prominent signs of the illness. Additional emotional signs you may be depressed include irritability, or "short fuse"; feeling anxious; feeling "empty"; feeling guilt or worthlessness; feeling helpless and/or hopeless; and having suicidal thoughts or preoccupation with death and dying.
Physical Signs
Many people make the mistake of assuming that you must feel sad or have something in your life to be "legitimately" sad about to be suffering from depression. In fact, although decreased mood and sadness are often a sign of depression, these are not always present. Many times, physical symptoms will become noticeable. These include decreased energy, too little or too much sleep, disturbance (up or down) in your appetite, and headaches or digestive problems or other aches and pains that never really seem to resolve or go away.
Mental Signs
Mental signs of depression are about changes in thinking. You may have depression if you are inordinately pessimistic about yourself or others or even the world around you. Other mental signs include difficulty concentrating or forgetfulness and difficulty with decision-making. Another mental sign is being unable to motivate yourself even to do things you would have previously found enjoyable or engaging.
Co-Occuring Illnesses
Depression often does not occur by itself and is instead accompanied by other physical or mental illnesses that may be more prominent and potentially mask any signs that depression is also occurring. These include substance abuse, anxiety disorders (e.g. PTSD, OCD), heart disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes. Oftentimes, the symptoms of depression can make these serious medical conditions more difficult to treat and vice versa.
Stress and Life Events
Depression can manifest during or after a stressful life event (even the "good" ones). Life events and circumstances are not, by themselves, signs of impending depression. However, knowing when you're vulnerable or otherwise at risk to developing depression can help you take care of yourself and prevent or minimize the effects of a depressive episode. If your life has had a recent onslaught of ups and downs, you're under a lot of stress at work, you have financial stress or you've recently suffered the loss of a close friend or loved one, keep a lookout for any of the signs of depression.
References
- U.S. National Institure of Mental Health: Depressive Disorders Information
- American Psychiatric Association, 2000; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th Ed.); American Psychiatric Association, Washington D. C.
