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Know the Early Signs of Depression

  • dsmith072
  • Jun 28, 2017
  • 2 min read

Feeling sad is a natural emotion. In times of natural life hardships, such as losing one's job, symptoms of depression can occur. When this happens, it is often called "situational depression" and most are able to recover within a few weeks or even a few days.

Major Depressive symptoms (from Major Depression, or Clinical Depression), however, are those that do not go away. When someone experiences true depression, their symptoms often affect their daily tasks and are characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness. This depression, also often called Unipolar Depressive Disorder, can last for weeks, months, or years.

In order to address depression and spread awareness, it is important to be able to recognize the symptoms; it is also important to recognize that those who suffer from depression may even express different symptoms - they are not always the same and it is not always easily recognizable.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of depression may include the following:

  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions

  • Fatigue and decreased energy

  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness

  • Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism

  • Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping

  • Irritability, restlessness

  • Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex

  • Overeating or appetite loss

  • Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment

  • Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings

Being able to recognize these symptoms is an important tool for you both as a family member, friend, acquaintance, or even as a person experiencing depression yourself. Know that there are tools and resources out there for you to help your loved one experiencing depression, or yourself. Some resources include treatment through:

  • Medications

  • Many different kinds of therapy

There are also things you can do for yourself or your loved one:

  • Be active

  • Set realistic goals

  • Spend time with a trusted friend

  • Let others help you

  • Improvement in your mood is gradual, not immediate, so be patient

Below is a video that can help us understand more about the background of depression:

We hope that in reading this post you feel empowered to help both yourself and others struggling with depression.

-The Thrive Team

 
 
 

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