Signs & Symptoms of Clinical Depression
Most people have a basic idea of what depression is and what it might look like. However, this common mental health condition can impact people differently. Some people have high-functioning depression and don’t exhibit many symptoms. Others can have a hard time simply getting out of bed in the morning. While everyone experiences depression differently, there are some common signs and symptoms to look out for.
Let’s cover a few of them, so you can pay close attention to how depression might be impacting you or someone you care about.
Sadness and Hopelessness
One of the most widely-known symptoms of depression is the overwhelming feeling of sadness. This, too, can impact people differently and come in different severities. However, it’s a common thread that most people struggling with depression tend to have. The feeling of sadness might not make it impossible to function, but it can cause you to feel weighed down, fatigued, and develop a sense of hopelessness about life in general. Sometimes, the feeling is described as a “general discontent.” You might find little enjoyment in things you used to love or people you care about.
Low Self-Esteem
It’s not uncommon for people with clinical depression to struggle with things like guilt or confidence. You might even have to fight back against negative self-talk threatening to knock down your self-esteem even more. Low self-esteem can make your depression even worse, leading to social isolation and less of a desire to try new things or even things you know you enjoy. As you feel worse about yourself, those feelings of hopelessness will continue to grow.
Physical Symptoms
While depression is a mental health condition, it often manifests through various physical symptoms. Some of the most common include:
Fatigue
Insomnia
Weight gain/loss
There are other health conditions that can contribute to these physical changes. However, if you’re experiencing multiple symptoms on top of these physical issues, there’s a good chance your depression is causing your body to react and respond in negative, unhealthy ways.
Continuous Low Mood
It’s not uncommon for people to think they might have clinical depression if they feel sad. But, it’s important to know the differences. Everyone feels sad now and then. Maybe you even find yourself feeling low fairly regularly. However, for you to be diagnosed with clinical depression, those hopeless, sad feelings need to be persistent—usually for several months. It can be easy for some people to misinterpret feelings of sadness as depression, which is why it’s so important to understand as many symptoms as possible.
Thoughts of Self-Harm
One of the most severe and dangerous signs of clinical depression is thoughts of self-harm or suicide. People tend to think that thoughts of suicide are a “last resort” when someone is depressed, but that isn’t necessarily true. Some individuals struggle with those thoughts for a long time before attempting to harm themselves.
If you’ve ever thought of self-harm or ending your life, don’t hesitate to reach out for help immediately. Even if you think you can control those thoughts or that you would never actually follow through with them, professional help is needed. Your life and well-being are nothing to take lightly.
With that in mind, if you’re experiencing any of these signs and symptoms of clinical depression, feel free to contact me to set up an appointment or if you have any questions about what you’re experiencing. Depression can be managed, and you can find some peace and happiness in everyday life. The best part? You don’t have to manage it on your own, and you shouldn’t have to, depression therapy can help with that.
