Today one in four people in India suffer mental illness issues each year for which they also consult the best psychiatrist in Delhi. While some people hide the signs of depression, some don’teven realize they are depressed. But do you know someone, who you think is depressed or showing some signs of depression? If you are worried then here we will discuss the signs that will let you know whether the person you care about is depressed or not. Although the common signs of depression are sadness and hopelessness, there are some signs that are less obvious.
In this article we will talk about the common as well as the hidden signs of depression. However, these signs can also indicate some other mental issues. You need to read carefully the article to know whether the person you know is depressed or actually suffering from any other mental disorder. But, before that we must talk about what depression is?
What is Depression?
Depression is the mental disorder that affects people of almost every age-group, but some are more susceptible than others. Studies have shown that people who have lost their jobs, having a bad relationship, death of a loved one, and people with long-term illness are usually depressed. In simple words depression is the feeling of sadness and anxiety.
Well, this affects people in different ways and the results can also vary from person to person. Knowing the signs and symptoms of depression can help you to know if any of your loved ones is suffering from depression and need your support.
Depression Symptoms
Depression can be more than a constant feeling of sadness. In fact, men, children and women can experience the symptoms differently. This can affect both your mental and physical condition. Let’s see the problems people face if they are depressed.
Men can experience the following symptoms related to their
- Moods like anger, aggressiveness, anxiousness and restlessness.
- Behavior like no interest in doing favorite activities, feeling tired easily.
- Emotional well-being such as feeling empty, hopeless and sad.
- Sexual interest like reduced sexual desire.
- Physical well-being like digestive problems, fatigue, etc.
- Sleep patterns insomnia, restlessness, excessive sleepiness or lack of sleep.
These are the common symptoms of depression found in men. Now let’s know how women experienced this differently.
Women can experience symptoms related to their
- Mood like irritability
- Behavior such as no interest in doing favorite activities, thought of committing suicide, withdraw from social engagements, etc.
- Emotional well-being such as feeling hopeless, empty, anxious and sad.
- Sleep patterns like sleeping too much, waking early, facing difficulty in sleeping.
- Cognitive abilities like talking slowly or not talking
- Physical well-being such as weight changes, low energy, aches, pain, increased cramps.
Here are the list of the physical and behavioral signs that you should look for to know if the person you care about is depressed.
Hidden Symptoms of Depression Can Include the Following: –
Appetite and Weight Changes
Eating too much or eating too less can be a major sign of depression. If the person you love has suddenly shown some changes in his/her eating habits then there’s a chance the person is depressed.
When in depression some people turn to food for more comfort, while some avoid eating due to low mood. This can result in sudden weight gain or weight loss. But, if you see a drastic change in your loved one’s body weight then this can be a sign of depression. So, the first thing that you must look for is their food intake.
Changes in Sleep patterns
There’s actually a strong connection in between mood and sleep. If a person is depressed then he might not be able to sleep properly and lack of sleep can contribute to depression. Researchers have found that people with insomnia are 10 times more likely to have depression than the people who are not in that condition.
If you can see a person sleeping too much or not all, then this is completely a sign of depression.
Alcohol and Drug Addiction
Some people who have mood disorder use alcohol and drugs to cope with their feelings of sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness. It has seen that most of the people who are depressed drink alcohol or use other substances as well, and also the ones who use drugs have mood disorder issues as well.
Fatigue
One of the most common symptoms of depression is feeling excessively tired, even when the person is not doing any hard work. Researchers have found that most people with depression experience fatigue. Well, people may feel tired from time-to-time, but the one who always experiences this,is depressed and needs support.
Loss of Concentration
Being depressed can make it difficult to concentrate on work or conversations. Even stress and anxiety make it difficult to pay attention and focus, which can affect memory. If you see any of your near and dear ones trail off during a conversation, forget what to say or lose their train of thoughts then you can sense that something is wrong with the person.
Loses Interest in favorite Activities
Losing interest in hobbies or something that person used to enjoy a lot is a telltale sign of depression. Usually this happens in low a mood. It is not normal to lose interest in something that a person used to enjoy often. And this is the first sign that a person can notice if anyone of his/her loved ones is depressed.
Physical pains and disorder
Though depression is a mental health disorder but this affects your body also. Apart from weight changes and fatigue some of the other physical problems you need to look out for the symptoms of depression include: –
- Backache
- Digestive problem
- Headache
- Chronic pain conditions
Common causes of Depression
You must have heard of people having depression, but have you ever thought why people feel depressed. What are the common causes of depression that even make people committing suicide? You should never take it lightly, especially if you or any of your loves ones is affected with this. Well, the scientists do not know the exact cause of depression, but they say that there are several factors that play an important role in causing depression which includes: –
- Trauma or stress
- Genetics
- Hormones
- Biological and chemical differences
- Personality traits
- Other illness
If you think you have the symptoms of depression then you can seek medical treatment from one of the best psychiatrists in Delhi.
What to Do If Your Loved One Has the Symptoms of Depression?
If you think your dear one is having all or any of the above-discussed symptoms of depression then you must talk to him/her. You must listen to their problems and offer non-judgmental advice and support. Try to speak to them and ask to seek treatment. Help them in getting appointments of the best psychiatrist in Delhi. Help them in coping with the anxiety or stress that are causing depression.
Consult a Mental Health Advisor
Now you can see that there are many signs and symptoms of depression and in fact, the consequences can also vary from person to person, so there’s not a single test to diagnose depression. For this you will have to consult a psychiatrist or a mental health advisor who will diagnose depression based on the patient’s symptoms and psychological evaluation.
Usually the healthcare advisor will ask a series of questions about the patient’s
- Mood
- Sleeping pattern
- Thoughts
- Appetite
- Activity level
As depression can be linked with health problems also so your healthcare advisor will conduct a physical examination as well. Then he can know how severe the problem is and how badly it has affected your mental and physical health condition.
Whether it’s you or any of your loved ones, you must not ignore the symptoms of depression and immediately seek medical treatment if not seeing any improvements in mental condition or things are getting worse.
