Normal Identifying Signs Tied To Clinical Depression

October 9, 2008 | By admin In Health and Fitness |

With various diseases so prevelant throughout our nation and healthcare seemingly in a shambles, family members are increasingly on the lookout for the symptoms of physical diseases, mental illnesses, and other discomforting conditions that disrupt our lifestyles, or worse. Depression is certainly among them.

Everyone experiences feeling “down” now and again, but clinical depression symptoms are often pronounced, chronic and prolonged. This disease affects close to 20 million Americans every year, and it’s an illness that can be treated with therapy and drugs.

And though clinical depression can be treated, many patients don’t seek treatment - often believing they’re just going through a slump or experiencing a down period that will pass. They might look at their symptoms and think they’re related to stress at work, problems at home or the everyday course of life’s ups and downs. But, if this affliction is left untreated, it can adversely afflict almost every aspect of an individual’s life.

Then, if identifying the clinical depression symptoms is so critical, how do you do it? To find out, read on.

Chronically Feeling Sad or Down

If you’re consistently experiencing a sad, “empty” or even anxious mood, this could be a sign of the disease. Typically, if these feelings continue for more than several weeks, those are indicators of the disease.

Change in Body Patterns

A sudden change in sleeping patterns - like sleeping a lot or not sleeping at all - can also be symptoms associated with the disease. Reduced appetite accompanied by weight loss is another indicator, as is increased appetite and subsequent weight gain.

Both of these body pattern changes can worsen the clinical depression as the symptoms become a source of anxiety.

Change in Sex Drive

Often patients diagnosed with the disease complain of a significantly reduced interest in sex. This lack of interest can also extend to other pleasurable activities

Irritability and Anger

When individuals deal with surmounting stress of clinical depression, they can often become aggressive, irritable or moody.

Mysterious Physical Ailments

Many people suffering from this plight will see their disease manifest itself in incurable and mysterious physical ailments such as chronic pain, headaches or digestive problems.

Decreased Mental Function

Are you having trouble focusing on tasks at work or school? Losing your ability to make concise decisions or remember small details? This reduced mental capacity can often be an identifying symptom.

Experiencing Abnormal Sense of Guilt

Those suffering from severe depression may experience unwarranted, yet strong feelings of guilt or worthlessness. In addition, ongoing thoughts of death or suicide as an answer is often a clear sign of clinical depression.

Clinical depression symptoms are not a normal part of being human, nor are they just part of a woman’s natural cycle. Depression is a serious medical illness that affects millions of people, but it can be treated and even cured. The real tragedy of this debilitating disease is that it so often goes untreated.