Assume that everyone is different, therefore, symptoms of depression will vary from person to person, but these usually include feelings of sadness or hopelessness. These may include 9 main symptoms.
We used the diagnostic criteria of DSM-5, DSM-V, and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which was published by the American Psychiatric Association in 1994, to look at this closely.
Here are the 9 symptoms of depression;
1. Mood disorders: Depressed moods remains present for much of the day, almost every day, as reported by the person (eg, feeling sad, empty, hopeless) or is observed by others. Note: In children and adolescents an irritable mood may be seen.
2. A marked decrease in interest or enjoyment in all, or almost all, activities (self-reported or observed by others). Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
3. Decrease or increase in appetite: we either find a tendency for compulsive eating disorders, which can be found in many cases, or a significant weight loss in the absence of diet (eg, excess weight loss. 5% in one month). Note: in children, take into account the absence of the expected increase in weight.
4. Sleep disorders: sleeping problems, insomnia or hypersomnia, difficulty falling asleep or waking up much earlier than usual. We also find excessive sleep. Problems falling asleep should be taken into account.
5. Restlessness or psychomotor slowing down almost every day (observable by others, not limited to a subjective feeling of restlessness or inner slowing down).
6. Fatigue and loss of energy, along with a loss of interest in once pleasurable things, including sex. Libido problem.
7. Feeling of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate worth.
8. Decreased ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness almost every day (reported by person or observed by others).
9. Recurring thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurring suicidal thoughts without a specific plan or suicide attempt or specific plan to kill yourself, self-harm.
If you recognize one or more of these symptoms for yourself, we invite you to contact a qualified doctor, the wisest way would be to start therapy or to get n analysis. Remember also that it is usually possible to rise out of depression. But you really need to take the steps to make a start and to do something about it.
