Depression can take as many forms as the people who experience it. And given that it will affect almost all of us at some point in our lives, it’s important to be able to recognize the signs — both the common signs and the ones you might not expect. Learning to identify the symptoms of depression can help you seek treatment earlier rather than later.
Common symptoms of depression
While most people describe depression as sadness, in truth it is more complicated than that. Depression can present as sadness, but there are many other indicators that distinguish depression from garden variety sadness.
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Lack of interest: Someone who’s depressed may lose interest in the people, places, and activities they once enjoyed.
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Changes in appetite: Depression may increase or diminish appetite. Some people may “eat their feelings,” while others may rarely experience hunger and lose weight rapidly.
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Irritability and grumpiness: Someone experiencing a depressive episode may become short-tempered and lose patience. According to Harvard Health, this symptom is more common in men than in women.
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Hopelessness: Depression can make a person pessimistic, feeling like there’s little hope for the future, whether or not that’s in line with reality.
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Worthlessness: Someone who’s experiencing depression may develop low self-esteem and feel that they have little worth or value.
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Changes in sleep: Depression can cause insomnia, but it can also contribute to the opposite problem. Someone who’s depressed may also oversleep or sleep during the day.
Less common symptoms of depression
While depression looks similar across the population, there are some unexpected symptoms that can be helpful to know.
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Exhaustion: Depression can cause one to feel inordinately tired, sleepy, or lethargic, regardless of one’s activity level.
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Aches and pains: Depression can present as weakness or persistent pain that doesn’t have a medical explanation.
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Memory lapses: Someone with depression may forget things easily or appear addled. For this reason, depression can be harder to diagnose in older adults.
Distinguishing depression from sadness
LONGEVITY
One of the first questions that mental health clinicals ask is how long you’ve been experiencing these symptoms. That’s because longevity of these symptoms is one of the most reliable ways to distinguish between everyday sadness and clinical depression. According to the World Health Organization, a patient must experience these symptoms of depression every day for at least two weeks to be considered depressed.
FUNCTION
To be considered depressed, a clinician must determine that your level of functionality has changed. That just means that your symptoms have impacted how well you’re able to carry out the basic tasks of your life. If your symptoms keep you from sleeping, working, or socializing, for instance, that’s likely a sign that what you’re feeling goes beyond sadness.
CAUSE
We all feel blue or down from time to time, but often, those feelings are in direct response to the events in our lives. When deep sadness arises out of the blue and persists for several weeks, that’s an indication that something else may be happening. Depression can also arise if the grief or sadness after a loss doesn’t go away even after significant time has passed.
How might depression look different in different cultures?
Depression can take different shapes depending on the person experiencing it. For instance, in some cultures, depression is more likely to be expressed as bodily pain. This is especially common when people or cultures don’t have specific language to identify mental health or depression. In these instances, it can be common to see increased complaints of physical pain, exhaustion, etc. Barriers to healthcare, like lack of insurance or language gaps, may also make it difficult to receive a diagnosis.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to talk to a counselor who’s trained to identify depression across culture, race, sex, and socioeconomic status.
Severe depression and suicidality: Red flags
Since depression can put patients at higher risk of suicide, make sure you’re familiar with the warning signs. These include suicidal ideation, intense feelings of worthlessness or guilt, increased isolation, or giving away one’s valuable belongings. If you or someone you care about is exhibiting these signs, seek help immediately. Other alarming signs to look for in yourself and others include:
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Feeling like a burden
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Increased use of drugs or alcohol
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Feeling trapped
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Feeling in unbearable pain
Consulting friends and family
Sometimes it can be difficult to articulate exactly how we’re feeling. For this reason, you may want to consult with a close friend or family member. Have they noticed any differences in your moods or behavior? When we’re feeling down, it can be hard to get the perspective we need to decide whether or not we’re experiencing true depression or just the ups and downs of life. A friend or family member may be able reflect on any changes they’ve noticed.
Talking to a counselor
Even after looking over the common symptoms, you still might be unsure if you’re depressed. The good news is that it’s never a bad idea to talk to a counselor. A trained mental health clinician can help you distinguish between general sadness and real, diagnosable depression. Even if they determine that you’re in fact not depressed, they may be able to provide some valuable insights about how to improve your mood and boost your resilience in dealing with everyday stresses and hardships.