Signs of Depression

All of us have our days when nothing goes right and we end the day feeling really down. However, as soon as there is a new dawn, we learn to put all that happened the other day behind us, and move on with life. Unfortunately, for those who suffer from depression, things are not this simple at all. Nothing seems to cheer them up, they seem to want to live in the past and nothing works in getting them past their feelings of depression.
For the person suffering from depression, all the feelings are real and they may feel that they are truly battling some very tough times. They may find it difficult to recognize that what they are going through is depression and thus may not be in a position to seek help. It is for family and friends to understand the symptoms of depression and if convinced that the person is suffering from depression, take him or her to a mental health expert.

The signs and symptoms of depression vary from person to person but typically, the following are some of the more common signs exhibited by a person suffering from depression:

• They have great difficulty in sleeping. We may all have trouble sleeping one or the other night but if there is a consistent pattern of sleepless nights, the person may be suffering from depression.
• The person suffers from overwhelming feelings of sadness, fear and anxiety without really knowing why. These feelings are so strong; the person is not able to move beyond them.
• The person may lose complete interest in something that he or she once enjoyed immensely.
• The person may speak constantly of having a sense of hopelessness, compounded by very low self-esteem.
• There may always be a feeling of fatigue and the person may not have the energy to do even day-to-day tasks.
• The person may have an extreme appetite, feeling either very hungry or hardly eating anything, leading to substantial weight gain or weight loss very quickly.
• The person is not able to concentrate on work or even at home and starts having memory lapses.
• It becomes difficult for the person to maintain healthy, normal relationships with friends, family, a partner and even co-workers.
• There is great restlessness without knowing what is causing it leading to frayed nerves and general irritability.
• The person may even start entertaining thoughts about suicide. This is a very dangerous stage of depression and family or friends have to step in and take the person to the doctor at the earliest.

Very often, the person suffering from depression does not recognize that there is a problem and tries to come out of his or her present mood by using caffeine, alcohol, drugs or they may try self-medication at times. This is why it is important that friends and family take the effort to know the warning signs of depression and step in to help the person before it is too late.