8 Major Symptoms of Depression
Mental health is as important as personal hygiene, and if your loved one exhibits any of the below-mentioned symptoms of depression, it is important that you seek medical help. Not just the other person, if you are sad or have something which is building mental pressure, you should seek help.
1. Switch in mood
One of the most usual symptoms of depression is mood swings. A person who might have depression has a sudden change in behavior, especially if he or she has been sad for a long period. He or she might appear extremely calm or try to be happy even when he is not.
2. Loss of interest
Depression can eliminate enjoyment and pleasure from things that you used to love doing earlier. These interests include reading, eating, cooking, going out with friends, etc. Depression might even lead to a loss of interest in sex.
3. Change in sleeping patterns
Change in sleeping patterns is a vicious cycle in the case of depression. If you don’t get proper sleep, you become more vulnerable to depression, and you might find it very difficult to fall asleep. It is also seen that people with depression tend to sleep a lot.
4. Taking deadly risks
Another common indication of depression is knowingly doing things, which might eventually risk life. When clinical depression reaches an advanced stage, a person may indulge in activities that could prove to be life-threatening, such as speeding a car in traffic or driving through red lights knowing that such acts may eventually lead to death.
5. Anxiety
Anxiety and depression often occur together, and a person may exhibit signs like restlessness, nervousness, or even feeling tense. You might also observe a heavy heart rate and rapid breathing. Also, an anxious or depressed person might not be able to focus on things properly.
6. Feeling very tired
Feeling exhausted, both mentally and physically, is one of the very common symptoms of depression. This tiredness is not normal, and it is seen that a depressed person persistently experiences a feeling of fatigue all the time.
7. Communication
If a loved one or person you care for often talks about how hopeless, worthless, and helpless they are or speaks about suicide, then chances are they are clinically depressed.
8. Fluctuation in weight and appetite
A person with depression might show drastic fluctuation in weight. Their weight might increase or decrease significantly because of no apparent reason. They might also indulge themselves in binge eating even if they are not hungry. Experiences may be different from one person to another.
Now that you know about the common symptoms of depression, it is essential that you take immediate action if you notice these signs in yourself or your close friend or family member.