The Signs Of Depression

The Signs That Can Happen During Depression

Depression is taken more seriously now. It can badly affect someone's life. So it is better to identify these signs of depression and get rid of it as soon as possible.

Thanks to the endless work of campaigners and charities, depression is now being taken much more seriously and far more people are aware of its impact. People now realize not only how common depression really is, but how badly it can affect someone's life. Yet, despite all of the attempts to bring awareness to depression, there are still a great deal of people who do not know how to recognize the signs of depression, knowing the signs and symptoms of depression can help make your life and potentially someone else's life a little bit easier.

The Symptoms

The main signs and symptoms of depression are:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
• Pessimism
• Low self esteem
• Irritability
• Feelings of anxiousness
• Changes in appetite
• Weight gain or loss
• Constipation
• Difficulty making decisions
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Low Moods
• Changes to menstrual cycle
• Lack of motivation

If you are experiencing any of these signs of depression then I would urge you to speak to a medical professional as soon as you possibly can. These symptoms and feelings won't go away by themselves and the longer you leave them, the more time they have to get worse. Speaking to someone about them and taking action are the only ways to deal with these feelings.

Alternatively, if you notice these signs of depression in someone else, try talking to them, they might be resistant at first, they might not even tell you anything, but they will know that someone cared enough to ask.

Depression is Still Misunderstood

Even though depression is an incredibly serious thing, a lot of people still throw the word depressed around a lot and this is not helpful. Not only does it belittle the condition, it makes recognizing the signs that much harder for people that don't know much about it. 
Depression is not:

• Feeling a little bit sad
• Self pity
• Fleeting
• Always because of an external factor
• Something that someone can just "get over"

Attitudes like this are incredibly harmful, particularly as they contribute towards the stigma that people face with regards to their depression.

This makes people much less likely to seek the help they so desperately need because they feel as though they will either be judged, or they will not be taken seriously.

There are People to Talk to

If you feel as though you or someone close to you may be suffering from depression, there are many different people that you can talk to, there are helplines all over the world dedicated to those dealing with mental health problems and they are there to listen, give advice and not judge. Their staff are highly trained and incredibly sensitive to the needs of those with mental health problems. 

Alternatively, if you don't want to actually speak to anyone then there are a number of websites you can look at to find out more information and hear other people's stories. This will make you realize that you are not alone and that so many people in the world are going through similar things to you.

Mind is a mental health charity created to help anyone dealing with a mental health condition, including depression, their website is full of useful information and other links that can be of help to you.

Rethink is another website dedicated to depression and mental health. There are so many websites dedicated to mental health that it is a case of finding the one most suited to you.

Talking about depression is the best way to remove the stigma and to encourage more people to come forward and seek the help that they need.