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Depression Symptoms and Tests

Depression is a common issue that sometimes seems to be turning into an epidemic. Anyone who has experienced it, or has a loved one who suffers from depression can relate what an unfortunate state it is. Thankfully, there are signs of depression that can be looked for, and if a person is dealing with this state, there are depression treatments that they can take advantage of.

First, let’s look into some of the common questions that can help determine whether someone may be dealing with depression. A quick depression test is usually all it takes for someone to discover whether they have symptoms.

1. Do you often find yourself not wanting to get out of bed in the morning because you don’t see a point? Do you want to hide from the world?

Many depressed individuals find themselves wanting to stay home or even stay in bed all the time because they feel low, unimportant, or like nothing good will come from them getting up.

2. Have you lost interest in hobbies, time with family and friends, or other activities that you generally enjoy, including sex?

When depression sets in, things like going out, hobbies, games, intercourse, or anything else that someone enjoys can seem pointless or like too much work.

3. What about changes in emotions?

Depression can cause major changes to a person’s thought patterns. It can make them feel anxious, sad, irritable, or suicidal, even if this is totally at odds with their usual character.

4. Have your daily routines and habits changed for the worse?

Any sort of major change that isn’t for the best is a poor sign. For example, depressed individuals can experience insomnia in the form of waking up unusually early, or not being able to sleep until very late. They can also experience extreme oversleeping. A sudden loss of appetite, or unusual binge eating are also depression symptoms.

If someone answers “yes” to many questions on a depression test like this, there is a good chance they are dealing with some depression.

Severity of the Depression

The next step is to determine how bad the depression is. Some individuals only experience depression in the form of SAD – seasonal affective disorder – or postpartum depression. These are temporary, and difficult to classify, but are semi-common and legitimate types of depression.

There is “minor depression,” which means that depression symptoms are present for 2 weeks or longer, but the person doesn’t exhibit symptoms that fit “major depression.” It should be noted that individuals who have “minor” depression are at high risk for developing “major” depression.

Then there is “major depressive disorder,” which manifests as many signs of depression that can actually prevent the sufferer from functioning normally. They may have trouble eating, sleeping, or maintaining a high level or focus and output at work or school.

Other forms and severities of depression exist, but they fall in between those two types in almost all cases.

Treatment Options

Obviously, going to a medical professional for any sort of concern about health is a good idea. Depression is often a symptom of something going on in the body, and getting a doctor’s opinion is advisable. They will be able to administer a depression test and go from there.

There are many antidepressants available by prescription, and if a patient would benefit from one of these medications a doctor will be able to help them figure out which one and provide a prescription.

If medication doesn’t appeal to an individual but they want professional help, psychotherapy can be a great option. Being able to “talk out” the issues that may be causing the depression can make a huge difference, and sometimes can eliminate the signs of depression completely if it was being caused by stress that wasn’t being handled.

While depression is a serious condition that needs to be treated, unless the afflicted individual has severe depression or it is interfering with their daily life, they may be able to handle it at home.

Exercise is recommended by doctor’s regularly because it is so effective at treating mild depression. Working out releases endorphins, which are chemicals in your brain that boost your mood. Even starting with a walk around the block every day can make a big difference, although more intense daily workouts are usually recommended.

Going to a nutritionist may also be a good idea, since more and more cases of depression are being linked to a dietary imbalance. This can include Vitamin D, although getting D from being outside for a little while each day and enjoying the sunshine is even better.

Finally, there are also other natural depression treatments that some individuals have used with great success, such as aromatherapy, music therapy, and hypnotherapy.

The important thing is that people realize that depression is a common issue, and even if someone doesn’t have severe depression they should still get help for it to prevent it from growing worse.

Learning to recognize depression symptoms can keep individuals from dealing with it for any longer than necessary, especially if they know more about the many depression treatments that are available.

References:

nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

webmd.com/depression/article-player-untrt-dep#5

webmd.com/depression/article-player-dep-trt#8

articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/02/12/treating-depression.aspx

articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/06/vitamin-d-for-depression.aspx