what are the symptoms of depression?
100428
In major, or acute, depression, at least five of the symptoms listed below must occur for a period of at least two weeks, and they must represent a change from previous behavior or mood. Depressed mood or loss of interest must be present. \n\n1. Depressed mood on most days for most of each day. (Irritability may be prominent in children and adolescents.) \n\n2. Total or very noticeable loss of pleasure most of the time. \n\n3. Significant increases or decreases in appetite, weight, or both. \n\n4. Sleep disorders, either insomnia or excessive sleepiness, nearly every day. \n\n5. Feelings of agitation or a sense of intense slowness. \n\n6. Loss of energy and a daily sense of tiredness. \n\n7. Sense of guilt or worthlessness nearly all the time. \n\n8. Inability to concentrate occurring nearly every day. \n\n9. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. \n\nIn addition, other criteria must be met: \n\nThe symptoms listed above should not follow or accompany manic episodes (such as in bipolar or other disorders). \n\nThey should impair important normal functions (such as work or personal relationships). \n\nThey are not caused by drugs, alcohol, or other substances. \n\nThey are not caused by normal grief. \n \nMajor depression usually last about twenty weeks. Between 30% and 40% of depressed patients experience sudden attacks of anger that they describe as uncharacteristic and inappropriate. \n\nSymptoms of depression in children may differ from those in adults. They may include: \n\nAn inability to enjoy favorite activities. \nPersistent sadness. \nIncreased irritability. \nComplaints of physical problems, such as headaches and stomach aches. \nPoor performance in school. \nPersistent boredom. \nLow energy. \nPoor concentration. \nChanges in eating or sleeping patterns or both. \nA greater tendency to bully others. (Anxious children are more often bullied). \n\nhttp://preventdisease.com/diseases/depression.html
529210
Because each person is different these are only signs that you can look for. Eating more then normal, sleeping to much crying all the time. These are all symtoms of depression. They are vague but if you have more then one of the symtoms for more then two weeks its good to see a doctor. Live can be wonderful.\n\n\nIf you are depressed at the moment some of the following symptoms may sound familiar: \n\nYou feel miserable and sad.\nYou feel exhausted a lot of the time with no energy .\nYou feel as if even the smallest tasks are sometimes impossible.\nYou seldom enjoy the things that you used to enjoy-you may be off sex or food or may 'comfort eat' to excess.\nYou feel very anxious sometimes. \n\nYou don't want to see people or are scared to be left alone. Social activity may feel hard or impossible.\n\nYou find it difficult to think clearly.\n\nYou feel like a failure and/or feel guilty a lot of the time.\n\nYou feel a burden to others.\n\nYou sometimes feel that life isn't worth living. \n\nYou can see no future. There is a loss of hope. You feel all you've ever done is make mistakes and that's all that you ever will do.\nYou feel irritable or angry more than usual.\n\nYou feel you have no confidence.\n\nYou spend a lot of time thinking about what has gone wrong, what will go wrong or what is wrong about yourself as a person. You may also feel guilty sometimes about being critical of others (or even thinking critically about them).\nYou feel that life is unfair.\n\nYou have difficulty sleeping or wake up very early in the morning and can't sleep again. You seem to dream all night long and sometimes have disturbing dreams.\n\nYou feel that life has/is 'passing you by.'\n\nYou may have physical aches and pains which appear to have no physical cause, such as back pain.\n\nIt's this wealth of depression symptoms, and the broad scope that confuses many people as to what depression actually is. Explanations rarely cover all the symptoms, and everybody's experience is different.
49907
"Regular" depression lasts a few days to a week or two.  Clinical depression lasts much longer and is harder to "snap out of" than the "blues."  \n\nIf you are sleeping alot, not sleeping at night, but sleeping during the day, these are indicators that something is wrong.  A change in eating habits, too much or too little, and sometimes unusual symptomes, like bumping into things when you don't usually, or forgetting things you never forget.\n\nThe best thing to do is to talk to your doctor or health care professional.  They can help you determine is you need medication, talking therapy, or, more likely, both.
976566
Symptoms of depression include: irritability, changes in sleep habits: oversleeping or insomnia, changes in eating patterns: overeating or lack of appetite, weight loss or gain, changes in mood, anger, loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, lethargy, sadness, crying.....\n\nIt sounds like your parents are the same way mine were when I was suffering when I was younger. They were in denial. Have you tried to confide in your pastor/minister? Or maybe your guidance counselor at school? You need an adult to reach out to that can speak to your parents and make them realize that you are suffering from a serious medical condition and you need some therapy.  It does sound like they don't want to face the truth. Perhaps they are hoping if they ignore it, it will go away. It won't though and you need to find someone outside of the family to reach out to whether it's someone from the church or someone at your school.\n\nGood luck.....
83549
I know this can't help you much, but you can try this online depression test, just to see how would your results look like.\n\nhttp://www.lessons4living.com/depression_test2.htm\n\nPeople arent always aware that they might be depressed. Denying things isn't good, people should confront their problems and try to solve them.\nIts not always easy, but with right help and support, things can get better.\nI was wondering myself what are the symptoms of depression and they vary from person to person and depend very much on persons entire life ans circumstances.
108026
many people find themselves depressed and fed up and some point during their lives.\n\nin some cases these feelings blow over in a few days; in others they can linger and make it difficult to function.\n\nthere are a number of things which may be helpful- you have asked us "what do it do?" and you may wish to dirrect that question at yourself in the form of "what do i want to do? how do i want to respond to my depression in ways that i'm not doing right now?" \n\nthere are many ways to approach depression positively. take up meaningful work or volunteer work, speak with a counselor, focus on your goals and positive assets as methods of healing... only you have the greatest insight into your personal situation, both inner and outer.\n\nwork with what you feel and what you would like to feel. look at avenues for change and growth (relationships, counseling, opportunities for enjoyment) and trust your heart.
465011
Well there are many.  Generally shock is not one of them unless tragety is associated with the depression.  But sone symptoms are:  numbness, feeling of despair, unable to eat, unable to sleep, headaches, crying, not wanting to get out of bed type of overall feeling.  Check-out the site I have listed for you.  Good Luck!  :)
231078
I have clinical depression and I think that you may show signs of being depressed. I am 13 and a girl by the way. You should be feeling happy most of the time and if you are sad for more than 3 days a week and/or cry more than 3 days a week you need help. I know I did. I know that when you go to the doctors they will tell you that you may be depressed and it is not a fun thing. You don't want to be depressed. Please, get help. If it helped me, it can help you!
502590
Depression can cause a number of physical symptoms and reactions.  It is a combination of fear, anxiety, and stress which produces tension.  One of the ways your body reacts to tension  is muscle contraction.  This can manifest in tension headaches, or possibly in your case, back ache.  Stress and tension target the weakest most vulnerable part of your physical body, as well as your emotions.  \nDepression, clinically speaking, is a result of a chemical imbalance in the body produced by conflict at the soul level.  The limbic system responds to this stress, and  depression is a result of the chemical imbalance produced by the body in response.
364389
sleeping too much or too little. anger, agitation, anxiety. gaining or losing weight. feeling sad for no reason. don't like being around people. You have to see a therapist who will presecrive an antidepressant and give you therapy to help you get over it. i'm doing that now. good luck
913822
You might try exercise, if you don't already do that regularly. I've read studies about exercise being just as good as medication for moderate depression symptoms. You can always ask the doctor next time you go for some medical advice, they might give you samples of some anti-depressants in case you do decide to go that route. Good luck and take care!
1174473
SYMPTOMS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER \n\nSymptoms of the Depression Phase \n\nThe symptoms of depression experienced in bipolar disorder are almost identical to those of major depression, the primary form of unipolar depressive disorder. They include the following: \nSad mood. \n\n\nFatigue or loss of energy. \n\n\nSleep problems (insomnia, excessive sleeping, or shallow sleep with frequent awakenings). \n\n\nWeight changes (either gain or loss). \n\n\nDiminished ability to concentrate or make decisions. \n\n\nAgitation or markedly sedentary behavior. \n\n\nFeelings of guilt, pessimism, helplessness, and low self-esteem. \n\n\nLoss of interest or pleasure in life. \n\n\nThoughts of, or attempts at, suicide. \nDepressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder often differ from those of unipolar depressive disorder in the following ways: \nPeople with unipolar depression can still experience a variety of moods, but the moods are neither elevated nor pathological and the affected person does not meet the criteria for mania. [ See Well-Connected Report #8, Depression.]\n\n\nEpisodes of depression in bipolar disorder are less likely to have a specific trigger than are those with major depression disorder. \n\n\nBipolar depression does not typically last as long as major depression (although left untreated some bipolar disorder episodes can still last six to 12 months). \n\n\nBipolar depressive episodes develop more gradually than those caused by major depression. \n\n\nDepressive symptoms in bipolar disorder patients also tend to be atypical, i.e., one sees an increase in sleep and appetite, a feeling of heaviness and slowness in the body, a tendency to feel rejected, and a preservation of volatile mood. \n\n\nOne interesting study reported that many bipolar disorder patients experienced dreams of death at the low point of their depression, and those dreams were soon followed by an upward mood change. \nSymptoms of the Acute Manic Phase \n\nThe acute manic phase is always characterized by mood elevation, either presented as exaggerated euphoria, irritability, or both. The episode lasts for at least a week or for any duration if it was severe enough to cause hospitalization. \n\nIn addition, certain other symptoms are present to assist in making a diagnosis. Some mental health professionals use the mnemonic device DIGFAST to identify them. \n\nIn general, for a diagnosis of mania, patient must have experienced either euphoria with three DIGFAST symptoms or irritability with four of these symptoms: \nD. Distractibility. This is the most common symptom and is usually characterized by the inability to pay attention to any activity for very long. \n\n\nI. Insomnia in mania typically means having high energy and requiring less sleep. (This differs from insomnia in depression, in which the patient has low energy plus an inability to sleep.) \n\n\nG. Grandiosity. Patients with this symptom have an inflated sense of themselves, which, in severe cases, can be delusional. Close to 60% of all manic patients experience feelings of omnipotence. Sometimes they feel that they are godlike or have celebrity status. \n\n\nF. Flight of ideas. Thoughts literally race. \n\n\nA. Activity. An increase in intensity in goal-directed activities occurs, which is related to social behavior, sexual activity, work, school, or combinations. \n\n\nS. Speech. Excessive talking. Is present \n\n\nT. Thoughtlessness. Excessive involvement in high-risk activities is present (e.g., unrestrained shopping, promiscuity). Mood disturbance may be severe enough to damage one's job or social functioning or relationships with others, or which require hospitalization to prevent harm to others or to the self. \nHypomania. With hypomania the symptoms of mania are milder and of shorter duration (but they last at least four days). They do not affect social or work life as dramatically. \n\nMixed or Pure Mania. Manic episodes themselves can be characterized as mixed mania or pure mani
411716
some of the symptoms of depression are sleeping too much or not enough, eating too much or not at all, crying or getting angry over what would usually be little things to you,Feelings of sadness, tension or irritability, decreased interest or pleasure in usual hobbies or activities, loss of energy, restlessness or feeling slowed down, thoughts of suicide or death, thoughts of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt. If you have any of these symptoms for 2 or more weeks then you are at risk of having depression and need to seek professional help. Going to a counselor will help. There may be a chemical imbalance in your brain making you depressed. If you have any of the above symptoms for more then 2 weeks please seek help. Hope this helps you and good luck! The remedys may vary from speaking to a counselor to getting on medication to both. They also my suggest other things as well.
950934
Registered Nurse Here; Well hun, I think most of us feel this way from time to time, however when this starts out numbering the good days.  It would benefit you greatly to see a Physician, your family doctor, he or she, may decide with you to try a medication or they may suggest a psychiatrist.  Not sleeping well and crying spells are two classical symptoms of depression.  I know  your having a hard time, and there is no need for you to suffer to this degree in the era of medication and modern technology, you can be helped and assisted to feel better.  Please seek medical/mental attention,  there is MHMR, or a family practice doctor.  Both of these can put you on the road to recovery.  Thank you for the opportunity to address such a sensitive question.  Please seek some help.
233361
Being sad all the time\nAnti-social\nTired\nNot interested in activites you used to be into\nMood swings\nThere's lots of symptoms, I suggest you see a doctor for evaluation.
570096
If you are depressed at the moment some of the following symptoms may sound familiar: \n\nYou feel miserable and sad.\nYou feel exhausted a lot of the time with no energy .\nYou feel as if even the smallest tasks are sometimes impossible.\nYou seldom enjoy the things that you used to enjoy-you may be off sex or food or may 'comfort eat' to excess.\nYou feel very anxious sometimes. \n\nYou don't want to see people or are scared to be left alone. Social activity may feel hard or impossible.\n\nYou find it difficult to think clearly.\n\nYou feel like a failure and/or feel guilty a lot of the time.\n\nYou feel a burden to others.\n\nYou sometimes feel that life isn't worth living. \n\nYou can see no future. There is a loss of hope. You feel all you've ever done is make mistakes and that's all that you ever will do.\nYou feel irritable or angry more than usual.\n\nYou feel you have no confidence.\n\nYou spend a lot of time thinking about what has gone wrong, what will go wrong or what is wrong about yourself as a person. You may also feel guilty sometimes about being critical of others (or even thinking critically about them).\nYou feel that life is unfair.\n\nYou have difficulty sleeping or wake up very early in the morning and can't sleep again. You seem to dream all night long and sometimes have disturbing dreams.\n\nYou feel that life has/is 'passing you by.'\n\nYou may have physical aches and pains which appear to have no physical cause, such as back pain.\n\nIt's this wealth of depression symptoms, and the broad scope that confuses many people as to what depression actually is. Explanations rarely cover all the symptoms, and everybody's experience is different.
272126
exercise is known to greatly decrease the symptoms of depression.  develop a strong network of friends and family that you feel comfortable sharing your feelings with.  find a counselor (therapist) that you like and trust, talk to them, they can help (ask people you know for suggestions of who to go to, if you're comfortable with that).  eat a healthy, well balanced diet (consult a doctor or other nutrition expert if you're not sure what this means for you, or how to improve your diet safely).  check any medicines/supplements for side-effects that may include depression or similar conditions, but consult with your doctor before discontinuing any medications, as this can also cause problems.  some people find that accupuncture or accupressure work well, but this is not for everyone.  the most important thing to do is to talk with your doctor and a therapist, they can help you a great deal.  Remember, talking is natural, and you can tell them if you don't want to take drugs.\n\nFind friends, Exercise, Eat right, Talk with your doctor/therapist, Become active in your community (such as volunteering, chuch)