Welcome to DepressionSymptomsTips.com. Depression is one of the most common mental health conditions in the World. Although we have vast knowledge in the field of depression, we strongly recommend that you seek the help of a medical professional if you think you’re going through depression, or seek help if you know someone who is. Unlike many others mental disorders, depression is one that is treatable; but the first step is coming forward. In most cases, it is impossible for anyone to differentiate between someone who is suffering from depression, and someone who is completely fine. We know just how it feels.
In order to really get a grasp of the common depression symptoms, causes of depression, types of depression, and so forth, you it’s essential to know what depression is. So what is depression? Depression is a mental disorder affecting millions across the World. You feel lonely; you feel isolated; you feel like you have no where to go. You have probably heard friends at one time or another say “oh, I’m so depressed”, sometimes jokingly, or possibly because they’ve had a bad day. But in reality, depression goes a lot further than having a bad day. When diagnosed, you’re said to be clinically depressed, and being clinically depressed goes way further than just having had a bad day. People who are clinically depressed feel hopeless, miserable, and like there’s no place for them in the World. Depression can be diagnosed and treated, which is why it is essential that you seek a medical professional if you are noticing any of the common depression symptoms we will go over in this article.
Depression Symptoms
One is considered to be clinically depressed when a number of the following depression symptoms are present. This list has been compiled by the APA (American Psychiatric Association) and is part of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. According to the APA, if an individual notices any five or more of these symptoms, it’s possible that they may be suffering from depression. Nonetheless, you should not try to diagnose yourself, even if more than five of these symptoms are present. If you think you are suffering from any of the depression symptoms below, you need to seek help from a medical professional. A general doctor will refer you to a mental health professional.
- most common of all, you simply feel down and out throughout the day
- fatigue, and no drive and motivation during the day
- inability to concentrate and focus
- inability to sleep
- suicidal thoughts
- change in physical appearance, generally weight loss
- feelings of isolation
- loss of sex drive
- loss of interest in previous hobbies
- lack of appetite
Even if you’re suffering from only one of the symptoms above, it is essential to get help. Depression can escalate quickly, and similar to other disorders, the sooner you are seen by a professional, the sooner the treatment process can begin.
How Many Types of Depression Are There?
Contrary to the common notion that there is only one type of depression, there are actually several. Nonetheless, you will often only here these terms in the medical field, as the general public simply refers to all of these as depression. Some of these types of depression are more severe than others, and may require different treatment procedures. Only a health professional can diagnose you with a specific type of depression. Below are the most common types of depression:
- Chronic Depression
- Atypical Depression
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder (also known as Manic Depression)
- Postpartum Depression
- Seasonal Depression
- Psychotic Depression
Is There Hope?
There most certainly is hope. Depression is common and something that has been studied for years. There is hope for everyone that suffers from depression. The most difficult part of the depression treatment process is coming forward and admitting that you need help. Many people find this to be the hardest part, as they have fear of being viewed negatively by others. This is completely untrue, and you should not feel shameful because you’re suffering from depression. Once this road block has been passed, it is generally uphill from there.
The above are simply the basics of depression. Depression has been studied by professional for years, and there are new discoveries being made about the mental disorder almost ever year. At DepressionSymptomsTips.com, we will bring you a vast amount of information regularly. Information on our website will include the types of depression, depression symptoms, diagnosis of depression, causes of depression, and other miscellaneous information related to depression in our blog section.