Signs of Depression: Remember Depression Can Kill

Educate yourself and always be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of depression in both yourself and those around you. Knowing how to spot these signs will assist you in not only keeping check on your own mental health, but the mental health of your friends and family as well.

The medical description of depression is very specific about the requirements that need to be in met in order to diagnose depression. The basic outline is that there must be a combination of symptoms that persist for at least two weeks without there being any sign of improving.

Included here are some of the general symptoms and signs of depression that you should keep in the back of your mind at all times. Being able to see the red flags of depression could save your life or that of a loved one someday. Because depression is so widespread it is likely that you will either become depressed or will know of someone who suffers from depression at some point in your life. This is why it is so very important that everyone knows the symptoms and signs of depression so they can intervene in the early stages and help the individual receive the treatment that they need to start feeling better. Depression is considered a mental health issue but sufferers report that it can sometimes physically hurt.

Occasionally people will experience sadness that is considered the normal "blues". This is much different than depression and only lasts a very short amount of time before improvement is felt or seen. Depression is a feeling of anxiousness, sadness and an overall empty mood that is very persistent and where the sufferer cannot shake these feelings. The person may cry often or be on the verge of tears all the time.

The anxiousness that accompanies depression is not the normal type that most people feel at one time or another. This particular type of anxiousness is so intense that it makes it extremely hard for the person to function normally in their everyday life. Sometimes phobias and/or fears accompany this anxiousness.

Another sign of depression is when a person seems to not feel anything at all. This is a big red flag that a person is suffering from depression and needs to consult with their physician immediately. When a person loses the ability to feel anything at all it is very important to get that person the help they need as quickly as possible. Do not leave them to suffer any longer.

Most people will argue with you and tell you they are fine and may even laugh when you tell them the signs of depression. This could very well mean that they are in a state of denial or that the sufferer is too ill to even be able to believe they are suffering.

Physical signs of depression can include feeling guilt, worthlessness and helplessness. An individual suffering from depression may not feel they are worthy of anyone's attention, praise or time. They may really feel as they are not worthy of the love of anyone and may feel very guilty should someone go out of their way to assist them in any way. The guilt may be from an event in the past that the person just keeps dwelling on. The person may be very negative and pessimistic and have a very bleak outlook of their future.

When an individual gets depressed, they are usually not interested in anything at all. He or she no longer enjoys activities and hobbies they once did. If the above signs are also accompanied by low energy levels and fatigue, this really points to depression.

It is common for a person who is suffering from depression to find it very hard to come up with the energy or cares to get out of their bed and go about their usually daily activities. They may simply not care anymore or there depression is so extreme that they cannot function even if they wanted to.

When someone observes the behavior above, they may think that the person who is depressed is doing nothing but constantly sleeping, however in reality their sleep is usually not peaceful and is frequently disturbed.

A common sign of depression includes a drastic change in appetite. This change can go either way with the individual either having an increasing appetite which causes weight gain or they may lose their appetite completely and alot of weight. If the person leads a sedentary lifestyle, the chances are they will gain weight.

One of the most disturbing signs of depression is if an individual starts dwelling on death and/or having thoughts of suicide. These are signs of depression that cannot be ignored and should be considered an emergency! If you or someone you know is having these thoughts or feelings, please seek urgent help.

For someone that suffers depression, they most likely feel as if their life no longer has any meaning or they just cannot figure out why they feel "off". It is important for them to see that there is light at the end of that terribly dark tunnel. If they cannot see it yet, they need to be convinced that it is there and the harder they work at it and the more they want to feel better, the easier it will be to find.

The good news in all of this is that depression can be very treatable with therapy, self help tools and anti depression medications. With the help of some or all of the above, a person can suddenly feel like they are alive again and will realize that they were merely only existing before their treatment.

If you know someone who is depressed who is against going on medication, try your best to encourage him or her to attend therapy sessions. Therapy can not only help them find the root of their problem and reason for depression, it can also give you peace of mind knowing that they are being monitored by a professional and taking some of the burden off your shoulders.

It can be very difficult to deal with a loved one who is depressed but remember that there is a ray of light at the end of that tunnel and you must also see it and believe that is will keep getting closer.

So please learn and remember the signs of depression and the ways you can help either yourself or someone you love one day.