How Do I Know If I Am Severely Depressed?
Curiously easily diagnosable and treatable medical problem,
depression happens to at least 20 million American adults every
year. As we discussed earlier, although everyone has experienced
sadness and feelings of being depressed, people that are
suffering from true depression have many frequent and recurring
long-term symptoms, making them view life as something not worth
living.
How would you know if you have a depression problem? Here are
more depression symptoms. These symptoms vary in each person,
although if these happen to you, it might be wise to consult a
doctor.
- Sadness that is prolonged
- Crying spells that are unexplained
- Significant and abrupt changes in sleep patterns and appetite
- Anger, irritability, anxiety, worry, agitation
- Pessimism, indifference
- Energy loss
- Persistent lethargy
- Guilt feelings and unexplained sense of worthlessness
- Difficulty in concentrating and indecisiveness
- Inability in taking pleasure in interests you previously enjoy
- Social withdrawal
- Unexplained pains and aches
- Extreme fatigue when you have not done much
- Recurring and frequent thoughts of suicide or death
If you are experiencing at least five of the symptoms listed
above and have begun interfering with family activities or work
for more than a week, ask your doctor for a thorough checkup.
This would most likely include having a comprehensive physical
exam (although some symptoms might be caused by other health
problems that you have) and a detailed clinical history. Just be
honest and open on what and how you are feeling.
Do not even think of diagnosing yourself. Likewise, you cannot
rely to a friend or a member of your family for diagnosis. Only
a doctor that is properly trained to check illnesses is the only
one that can fully determine if you are having a depression
episode.
If you want, you could try self-evaluation tests available on
the Internet that could help you gauge the symptoms that you
have, or at least, can prepare you when you visit your doctor.
Think of these tests as a way of communicating your symptoms
better to a healthcare professional when you go in for a visit.
Of course, online tests prove no match to an actual consultation.
For other people, depression is recurrent, which simply means
that they experience depression episodes often - once or twice
in a month, at least once a year, or many times throughout their
lifetimes.
Do not feel embarrassed, shy, or ashamed of your depression
problem. People of various ages, ethnic groups, races, and
social classes get this problem. Although depression can happen
at any given age, depression commonly develops in people whose
ages lie between 25 and 44. If you have a depression problem,
you're not the only one. Every day, there are more than 20
million American adults that are experiencing depression
problems.
Be persistent and patient and you will find the method that
suits you best for determining depression.