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Diagnosing Depression, The Signs and Symptoms

How to Diagnose Depression – Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Depression is a very serious illness and can have tragic consequences if left untreated. It is important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression so that help can be sought quickly. Here are some aspects to consider when it comes to diagnosing depression.

Physical signs
There is a range of physical signs that may be present in people suffering from depression. The most common is weight loss. Depressed people will often lose a large amount of weight in the space of a short time because they have no desire to eat. In the minority of cases people will overeat in order to feel less depressed and they will pick up weight as a result. Other signs include restlessness, motor slowing, sleeplessness and lack of energy.

Psychological and emotional signs
Two of the big psychological signs of depression include lack of interest in activities once deemed pleasurable, and a generally depressed mood for most of the day. Another sign in this case is the inability to concentrate or a sense that one’s thinking is slow and hampered. Other signs include feelings of worthlessness, inappropriate and excessive guilt, and recurrent thoughts of death and suicide.

Professional diagnosis
Many signs and symptoms are noticeable by the family but it is only really associated with depression once a professional has enquired about it. There are different types of depression, and while some types are “normal” responses to life events, there are pathological variants as well. This can only be diagnosed by a trained professional. The course of action then will depend on the cause of the depression and the extent to which it is present.

These are just some of the things to consider when it comes to the signs and symptoms of depression. While it is useful to know what they are, it is also great to understand what can and should be done about it.