Identifying Depression and Its Effects

With the amount of stress facing people today it is no wonder that cases of diagnosed depression are on the rise. It seems like every time you turn on the television you can find a commercial for some new type of antidepressant. From fluoxetine which is marketed by Eli Lilly and Co as Prozac to paroxetine which is sold as Paxil by GlaxoSmithKline, the market is awash with a huge number of different medications used to treat depression.

There is just one problem with this. How do you know if what you are suffering from is depression or something more serious? Knowing how to identify depression can take you a good way toward finding a suitable treatment. Keep in mind that depression varies from one person to the next. No two people will have the same set of symptoms. These can vary in number, type, and severity.

One of the most recognized signs of depression are persistent feelings of sadness or anxiousness. Many people will describe a feeling of hollowness or emptiness. Oftentimes these feelings will be accompanied by extended periods of irritability or even restlessness. People close to you may feel alienated by the sudden outbursts that can go along with such periods.

Other feelings that may accompany depression include helplessness or hopelessness as well as worthlessness. Sufferers may also have unexplainable feelings of guilt and may always seem to have a pessimistic outlook. Weight changes can be an overlooked side effect of depression.

People suffering from depression may tend to experience rapid weight loss or gain through the changes depression can have on their appetite. These appetite changes may be accompanied by increased feelings of sluggishness or fatigue. This drop in energy can take place whether or not you have experienced a weight change.

If you suffer from depression you may find yourself sleeping less and less. It is also possible that you may tend to have periods of oversleeping as well. You may feel like it is difficult to get out of bed let alone try to go through your normal routine. You may find that things that you once enjoyed, such as certain activities or hobbies, now seem to hold no interest for you.

There are some symptoms of depression that may not be recognized as such. These include issues such as chronic headaches or pain and trouble making decisions or concentrating. They can even include digestive troubles. All such issues should be reported to your health care provider so that a proper course of action can be instituted. Untreated depression can lead to a great deal of other health issues. From heart trouble to diabetes and beyond, these issues can be just as life threatening as depression itself.

Depression is a normal human condition from time to time when faced with stressful situations. The problems come in when these conditions last for extended periods of time. This leads to a long term depressive state which can be quite dangerous to your health. Never ignore these periods of depression as they can easily get out of hand. They are a serious issue and should be addressed as such. If you find yourself or a loved one is having thoughts of dying or of suicide then contact a health care provider immediately. Do not let things escalate to the point of an actual suicide attempt before you seek treatment.