Suffering from Symptoms of Depression?

Are you Suffering from Symptoms of Depression? Let’s Sort Them Out

  • Are you losing interest in day-to-day activities and feeling down for the last two weeks or more?
  • Is your motivation decreasing?
  • Your memory is deteriorating, and your concentration is diminishing?

If the answer is yes, maybe you are suffering from depression. 

The latest calculations from the World Health Organization indicate that over 300 million people are experiencing depression, and it is believed to be the root cause of ill health and disability globally. Moreover, the WHO also identifies depression as one of the significant risk factors for suicide, which kills millions worldwide.
 
We may name the depression “major depressive disorder” or “clinical depression”, and those who are fighting depression, suffer in silence with constant feelings of sadness and disappointment. It not only causes an emotional setback but also leads to physical symptoms, including chronic pain or digestive issues. Likewise, people suffering from heart disease or diabetes, are also prone to depression. Surprisingly, it may also lead to substance use disorders such as marijuana or cocaine. People suffering from depressive symptoms may get worried or anxious about minor issues.

How is Depression Different from Sadness?

You need to understand that sadness is normal and depression is alarming. You may experience sadness due to divorce, loss of job, or death of a loved one but depression does not require a specific event or situation. If you are depressed, you will feel sadness or hopelessness about almost everything. Sadness is a temporary emotion, whereas depression is a permanent sense of guilt or low self-esteem when even enjoyable activities are no more a source of happiness. Also, sadness does not lead to suicidal thoughts so if your family member talks about suicide, take it seriously. For example, if someone says “It is good to go to sleep forever” or “I am/ will take my life”. You need to take the step or encourage him or her to consult a mental health professional right away.

You may receive a diagnosis of depression when the symptoms are causing clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. You are living with these symptoms for the last two or more weeks, and your depressive signs are not resulting from substance abuse or another medical condition.

If you have five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period and at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure, maybe you are falling prey to depression, and you need professional help.

  1. You experience a depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
  2. You have significantly lost interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities most of the day, almost every day.
  3. There is significant weight loss or weight gain, or a decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
  4. You have a low level of motivation, and your physical activity has reduced.
  5. You feel fatigued or loss of energy nearly every day.
  6. You experience feelings of worthlessness and excessive or inappropriate guilt almost every day.
  7. Your ability to think or concentrate has diminished, and you are not able to make everyday decisions.
  8. You experience frequent thoughts of your death with or without a specific plan, or you have attempted suicide, or you have a specific suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

If you feel a lack of social support and experience shame that prevents you from accessing treatment, make a decision, take a step and contact us. We can help you to change your thinking, change your life, and enhance your well-being using evidence-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy, which is the first-line treatment of choice for depression.