Symptoms of Depression
One of the key signs of clinical depression is a major loss of interest towards normal activity or a depressed mood. In addition, these signs should be present for an extended period of time, at least every day for two weeks. The depression must cause significant impairment and not be caused by drugs, medication or other factors like hypothyroidism.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, people who suffer from depression will not have the same symptoms as others who also claim to suffer from depression. Symptoms and severity can vary.
Some common symptoms of depression are:
- Feelings of sadness throughout the day, intensified in the morning.
- Lack of energy and fatigue.
- Feelings of worthlessness and guilt.
- Problems concentrating.
- Sleeplessness or excessive sleeping.
- Diminished interest in normal activities or former hobbies.
- Recurring thoughts of death, dying, or suicide.
- Restlessness.
- Significant weight loss or gain within one month.
In addition, symptoms of depression can occur in patterns. For instance, people who live in areas that are heavily covered by clouds or who experience bad weather on a regular basis are inclined to suffer from seasonal affective depression. In addition, seasonal affective depression happens readily around the changing of fall to winter in many seasons because of the amount of darkness during the day.
There is also a form of depression that is called manic depression, where a person can go from feeling elated to sad. Manic depression is a form of bi-polar disorder.
