Am I Depressed? 6 Symptoms of Depression You Shouldn’t Ignore

Portrait young man bearded posing outdoor with a pensive smile

Depression is a prevalent disease affecting nearly 9% of adults in the United States. However, recognizing depression early on can be challenging because it differs from person to person. Depression symptoms aren’t always as apparent as frequent crying and despair. In fact, most people don’t reach out for help until it becomes a severe problem affecting their daily lives.

Diagnosing and treating depression early with the right provider can significantly impact your overall health and make your recovery easier. 

To help recognize depression symptoms in yourself or a loved one, here are six signs you shouldn’t ignore as they could be underlying causes of depression. 

Depression Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

  1. Trouble Sleeping or Sleeping Too Much

A common early sign of depression is sleep trouble. Whether you are sleeping too much (hypersomnia) or not enough (insomnia), this can be an early sign you shouldn’t ignore. Factors such as daily stressors, caffeine, and alcohol can impact anyone’s sleep, but if these don’t apply to you, it may be time to consider other causes and seek help. 

  1. Your appetite has changed.

Depression can impact our appetite and eating habits. If you notice that you are eating too much or not enough, it may be time to seek help. You may not notice a change in your eating habits, but you may notice a difference in your weight. If you see any significant weight gain or loss, this could also be a warning sign to pay attention to.

  1. Easily irritable or angry with friends and family

Many people believe that depression leads to overwhelming sadness, but many experience anger and irritability rather than hopelessness. If you have noticed that you have a short fuse, are impatient, or become angry quickly with those around you, don’t ignore it or blame it on stress or work. Instead, consider this could be something else and reach out to a doctor to discuss it.

  1. Your concentration is becoming a challenge.

If you struggle to stay focused each day at work or school or have difficulty remembering information and understanding it, this could be an early sign of depression that you shouldn’t ignore. Difficulty maintaining attention, processing information, and switching your attention from one task to the next are all signs of cognitive impairment, a symptom of depression.

  1. Decreased energy throughout the day

Depression can take it out of you throughout the day. Lack of energy or constant fatigue can impact your ability to function each day. If you have noticed that specific tasks take you longer than before or that you are more tired coming home from work each day, you may need to consider depression as the cause. 

  1. Unexplained physical symptoms

Since our mental and physical health is intertwined, depression can start to manifest itself in unexplained physical ways. For example, headaches, digestive issues, aches and pains, and heaviness in the legs are all physical symptoms that could be associated with depression. Therefore, we mustn’t ignore or dismiss these symptoms.

Getting Help

Most people perceive a depressed person as someone who cannot show happiness or smile. The truth is most people can hide their condition very well from others. In conclusion, if you notice any of these signs or symptoms in yourself or a loved one, reach out to a mental health provider or doctor and seek help. Remember that you are not alone and that reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness. 

About Salience Health:

At Salience Health, we approach treating mental health in a comprehensive and holistic approach by combining Primary Care Providers, Psychiatrists, and Therapists all under one roof to provide patients with complete mental healthcare. Learn about our depression program at www.saliencehealth.com. 

 

Sources:

  • https://www.nami.org/mhstats 
  • https://adaa.org
  • https://www.webmd.com