What Are the First Signs of Depression?

SHOULD I BE WORRIED?

Feeling low from time to time is an everyday part of normal life. We all experience various emotions - some good, some not so. It is when these low moods become part of your everyday life that may mean you are suffering from clinical depression. It is when the feelings of "greyness" take over and make everyday decisions and actions seem much more difficult than they used to, that you need to sit up and take notice.This is when you need to ask "What are the first signs of depression?"

In short, if you have constant low mood, have little interest in the things that once filled your day, and you are struggling to cope with all that you once coped with, then I would suggest that you read on.

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Life will always have its highs and lows. It is normal. People will always have periods of happiness and sadness - they are normal human emotions in response to everyday situations. Some people, when feeling a little low, will often tell you "I'm depressed". Loosely, they can be, we can allow them this indulgence. This is more likely to be termed situation depression, or a normal reaction to events unfolding around us. Clinical Depression, however, is something totally different. It is a totally consuming condition which effects the way in which we live our lives. With Clinical Depression, it is difficult to sleep, eat, concentrate of even to enjoy life as you once did, and, whats more, there seems little escape from it.

WHAT ARE THE FIRST SIGNS OF DEPRESSION?

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed below, and they just seem never to go away, you may be suffering from Clinical Depression.

• You can't get to sleep, wake up in the middle of the night or have too much sleep


• Tasks that were once easy now seem difficult


• Inability to concentrate


• Low self esteem - feeling worthless, ugly or useless


• Loss of appetite or over eating - comfort eating


• Experience anger or irritability at the slightest mishap


• Crying at things which, to others, seem trivial


• Loss of sex drive


• Lack of energy


• Unable to have "fun" or find amusement in the things that you once did


• Dark Thoughts that you cannot push out of your mind


• Suicidal thoughts (In this case you MUST seek emergency help

If you can answer YES to 2 or more of these symptoms you may well be on the road to having your life blighted by depression, and it is time to take action.

It is not the end of the world however. Many people have managed to pull themselves out of the grip of depression, including myself, and there are various ways of doing so. For some, medication is the answer. Whilst I am not suggesting for one minute that this should not be the way forward, its not for everyone, and certainly wasn't for me. I did not want to be on anti depressants for months or even years as I had seen in some cases.

With the Internet at out fingertips there is whole world of self help guides for anyone asking the same question as you: "What are the First Signs of Depression?"