Depression Symptoms

Triggers for depression symptoms can be anything from unexpectedly recalled events from the past to a recent unsettling life episode with which someone lacks the ability to cope. Additionally, symptoms of depression and anxiety can be mentally, emotionally or physical expressed, depending on how someone is pre-disposed or psychologically equipped to deal with anger turned inward. Some of the more frequent complaints of clinically depressed individuals include: 

• Feeling hopelessly unable to control anything in one’s life
• Overwhelming feelings of guilt, worthlessness and emptiness
• Restlessness, anxiety and irritability with others for no reason
• Hypersomnia or insomnia
• Eating too much or too little
• Inability to concentrate on everyday tasks with such depression symptoms as an inability to balance a checkbook or make a grocery list
• Inability to find enjoyment in hobbies or activities that were once pleasurable
• Suicidal ideation or actual suicide attempts
• Various aches and pains throughout the body, especially headaches and backaches
• Hypochondria
• Digestive disturbances due to elevated levels of cortisol and fluctuating appetite 

Intensity of depression symptoms depends on the type of depression affecting the individual. Someone diagnosed with major depressive disorder will suffer symptoms compelling enough to interfere with all aspects of life, such as working, eating, sleeping and relationships, and present a condition that is essentially disabling. Minor depression symptoms are usually associated with a temporary issue in the person’s life and will fade with counseling or psychotherapy.

Am I Depressed? 

Considering the possibility that you may be depressed suggests that you are aware of some facet of your behavior or thought processes, which resemble depression symptoms. Perhaps you have noticed you do not feel like getting out of bed for whole days at a time or feel like no one cares about you because you are not worthwhile enough.

Additionally, you may be making more mistakes than usual at work and find yourself just sitting and doing nothing while sad thoughts keep repeating themselves in your mind. Although it is hard to take action when you are experiencing these symptoms of depression and anxiety, you need to understand that the longer you wait to be evaluated, the more intense your symptoms will grow.

Receiving a depression screening by a qualified psychologist will facilitate a professional diagnosis of depression and initiate a treatment program that will help you overcome the incapacitating disorder of depression. With the help of a counselor who has been trained in implementing successful techniques to discover the root cause of the depression, most individuals learn how to cope with depression symptoms using cognitive behavioral therapy, rational-emotive therapy, psychotherapy or positive psychology, along with assistance from medications such as antidepressants or MAOs (monoamine oxidase).

Anger and Depression 

Anger is a primal emotion meant to motivate us to action. When you experience anger, this is an indication that someone or something has provoked a psychological disturbing response from you which you would really rather not experience. Although getting mad is sometimes necessary in order to initiate a beneficial change, feeling angry all the time only exacerbates your internal sense of worthlessness in a corrosive and negative way.

When someone is angry because they believe they have been wronged but are unable or incapable of rectifying this wrong, depression symptoms soon begin to appear. A natural human instinct is believing that you are special and should be treated fairly. However, life is definitely not fair and individuals who do not possess the coping skills to deal with this unfairness often suffer from depression.

Self-Pity 

Associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety is the self-defeating trap of self-pity, a product of distorted thought processes continually enhanced by feelings of anger, frustration and hopelessness. Alone, the individual has difficulty addressing and correcting the cycle of anger, self-pity, powerlessness and ensuing depression symptoms.

Understanding how thoughts can have a tremendous effect regarding how the world is perceived can help someone learn how to successfully cope with such crippling feelings of depression. Cognitive behavioral therapists can teach techniques to depressed people regarding what they can do to alter thought formations and prevent anger from causing depression. 

Signs of Teenage Depression 

Sometimes it is difficult to detect teenage depression because of the secretive nature of teenagers. Adults realize that adolescents are experiencing a confusing and tumultuous time as teenagers who are newly discovering the complications of school, friendships, love, peer pressure and jobs. Parents and teachers may misconstrue depression symptoms exhibited by teenagers as growing pains, and as such fail to address them. In addition, adolescents are often fearful of appearing different from their friends and peers and stubbornly resist the urge to talk to someone about what they are feeling.

When a teenager demonstrates several of the following depression symptoms over a period of two weeks or more, he or she may be experiencing depression:

• Lack of interest in activities or socializing when the teenager once enjoyed such events
• Frequently having the appearance of recent crying with reddened eyes and puffy face
• Stating on several occasions that life is meaningless, hopeless or out of their control
• Constantly complaining of boredom, tiredness
• Sleeping more than usual as depressed teenagers may stay in bed all weekend
• Deliberately isolating themselves from others when previously, they were outgoing and active
• Exhibiting low self-esteem by repeating remarks concerning how stupid they are, how ugly they are, how nothing seems worth doing are all depression signs
• Feelings of hostility, irritability and sometimes overwhelming anger in someone who had never before seemed upset
• Complaints of vague physical illnesses, such as dizziness, stomachaches, headaches, nausea, back pain
• Receiving poor grades at school, especially if the teenager was once an A or B student
• Running away from home
• Self-injury such as cutting
• Alcohol and drug abuse 

Symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescents require immediate intervention and treatment so that adverse consequences can be avoided. Depressed adolescents who do not receive help may do one of several things: become involved with juvenile court system, become homeless, addicted to illegal substances or commit suicide.

Signs of Postpartum Depression 

One of the more recent depressive disorders to be included in the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual of Mental Disorders IV is postpartum depression. This type of depression only affects women who have just given birth. New mothers may experience postpartum depression symptoms within days of having a baby or sometimes not for several months after the birth.

Due to significant hormonal fluctuations occurring during pregnancy and following the end of a pregnancy, women are subject to mood changes that are further aggravated by what is externally happening to her during pregnancy. Her body modifications, relationships and other life-oriented situations will undoubtedly change, sometimes not for the better, worry and anxiety increases and the mother may suffer from lack of sufficient sleep as well. 

Postpartum depressions signs include:

• Anxiety, panic attacks and abrupt mood changes
• Appearing unconnected or withdrawn to others
• Lack of pleasure in taking care of the child or in most other activities
• Fatigue and drowsiness
• Feeling guilty and worthless
• Thinking about suicide
• Insomnia, wandering at night
• Express fear at being left alone with the baby
• Thoughts about hurting the baby
• Extreme worry about the child or not caring at all about the child

Occasionally, postpartum depression may develop into psychosis if left untreated. Signs of postpartum psychosis co-morbid with depression are:

• Experiencing auditory hallucinations
• Believing that God is talking directly to them about harming the baby
• Inability to communicate sensibly with others
• Performing ritualistic tasks
• Complete break with reality

Signs of postpartum depression need to be taken very seriously and treated immediately before anything injurious happens to the mother or child. For relief from depression symptoms, several antidepressants are available which are safe to give to mothers who are breastfeeding, such as Paxil, Paroxetine and Nortriptyline. In addition, women experiencing postpartum depression will also benefit from participating in support groups and professional counseling 

Causes of Depression Symptoms 

Depression is not caused by one factor but by several factors combined. The interplay of biological, environmental, genetic and psychological factors represent the ultimate display of a certain kind of depression, whether it is major depression, seasonal affective disorder or postpartum depression.

Scientists now know that depression, as well as other mental disorders, is based on brain architecture and neurotransmitter levels in the brain.

The main neurotransmitter implicated in depression is serotonin, a monoamine responsible for regulation of mood, sleep, arousal, appetite and pain. Because serotonin has an inhibitory effect on these conditions, a reduced amount of this neurotransmitter may cause impulsive and aggressive behavior as well as disruptions in sleep, appetite and pain sensation. Prescribing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors effectively increases the amount of serotonin in the brain by inhibiting its release from receptors. 

Genetics also plays an important role in determining whether an individual may be vulnerable to suffering from depression symptoms. A wealth of research exists validating that depression, as well as other mental illnesses, tends to run in families. However, whether this is solely due to inheritance factors or has something to do with dysfunctional family syndrome is still being debated. Most clinicians agree that it is probably the interaction of both genetics and environment, which leads to blood-related individuals to be diagnosed with depression.

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Depression Symptoms

Also visit the other great pages on this site, Depression Statistics,  Causes of Depression,  Cures for Depression  and Depression Types.

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