Approximately 21 million persons↗ (8.4%) in the US suffer from clinical depression or severe depressive disorder. This mood illness is more common in women than in males, and it mostly affects those between the ages of 18 and 25.

Depression may affect everyone since it can be brought on by a variety of circumstances. The majority of people think about consulting a mental health expert due to enduring depressive and disinterested sentiments. There are several more symptoms of clinical depression that one should be aware of, even if these are the most typical ones.

Major Depressive Disorder Symptoms

Feeling helpless

One of the most common signs of severe depressive illness, it affects a person’s outlook on life. The impacted individual has a pessimistic view and feels unable to prevent or manage unfavorable situations.

Patients frequently consider suicide because hopelessness breeds emotions of apathy, remorse, worthlessness, and self-hatred.

Weight Change and Appetite

A shift in appetite and weight is one of the more overt physical signs of depression. A depressed person will either eat too little or too much. While some people lose their appetite due to a bad mood, others frequently turn to comfort food in an attempt to feel better.

This affects mood and energy levels over time and causes either weight gain or decrease. Increased body fat can occasionally cause metabolic and endocrine abnormalities↗ , which raises the risk of experiencing severe symptoms of depression.

Enhanced Fatigue

As said, some persons have low energy levels because they consume less. Even with minimal effort, that causes individuals to feel exhausted. Depression is the second most common lingering symptom of clinical depression↗ and will also directly lower a person’s energy levels.

Depression affects people on a physical, emotional, and social level, which leads to weariness. Fatigue episodes affect one-third of people who are in remission from depression.

Diminished Interest in Activities

An individual who is depressed will not enjoy engaging in things they used to like (anhedonia). When someone loses their enthusiasm and enjoyment of activities they used to look forward to, they may retreat and become numb. Impotence or a decreased sex drive may also result from it.

Inadequate Sleep

Changes in sleeping patterns are another sign of depression since people who are depressed often have trouble sleeping due to mood fluctuations.

If anything, sleep and depression are strongly correlated. People with depression will have trouble falling or staying asleep, and those who don’t get enough sleep over time will develop depression due to changes in the brain’s neurochemistry. Patients with the disease also wake up too early, which results in sleep deprivation.

However, getting too much sleep might also indicate that a person is depressed.

Anxiety

People who don’t get enough good sleep may experience anxiety, which is closely linked to depression. Due to their shared symptoms, which include headaches, exhaustion, and trouble sleeping, anxiety and depression are closely related.

Changes in Mood

Mood swings may result from a depressed person’s inability to regulate their emotions. They can have a violent outburst and start crying in short succession due to the fast emotional swings.

Abuse of Substances

Speaking of mood swings, some individuals who experience the symptoms of significant depression turn to drugs and alcohol as a way to numb their loneliness, sadness, and despair.

About 20% of people with anxiety or mood disorders misuse alcohol and drugs, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America . The opposite is also true. Because one can cause the other, drug usage and anxiety or mood problems are also caught in a vicious cycle.

The ability to irritate

Men are particularly affected by irritability↗ , which leads to strong outbursts of unwarranted rage, irritation, or dangerous or escapist behavior, even over trivial issues. Depression causes a person to lose control of their emotions, which makes them easily irritated and prone to exaggerating situations.
Depression symptoms can affect your life in a variety of ways, including relationships, employment, self-esteem, and more.

Diminish Memory or Focus

Because they lack motivation to think that something is worthwhile, a patient exhibiting symptoms of sadness may occasionally lose concentration. They see no use in attempting to achieve a certain objective. Depression can hinder short-term memory, potentially causing individuals to lose their focus.

Physical Pain and Health Issues

Physical discomfort and other health issues might be brought on by depression. Back discomfort, digestive problems, and headaches are among the frequent physical ailments that people with depression often exhibit.
This is due to the fact that mood and pain are controlled by the same neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine. Because depressed people usually primarily complain of their physical symptoms, diagnosing them might be difficult.

Repeated Suicidal Thoughts

The most concerning symptom of sadness is definitely thinking about dying. Research indicates that the risk of suicide is around 15%↗ for those who suffer from depression. It is crucial in these situations to get medical attention very away. In the event of an emotional crisis or suicide ideation, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline should be called or texted.

Last Word

Depression impairs a person’s capacity for regular functioning. It might be difficult to diagnose major depressive disorder since its symptoms are similar to those of the majority of other cognitive diseases. Anxiety, exhaustion, anger, mood fluctuations, despair, loss of interest in activities, and weight loss or increase are among the most typical signs of depression.
While therapy and lifestyle modifications can help treat minor depression, medication is required for moderate to severe depression that lasts for an extended period of time.