Symptoms of Depression

Do you have symptoms of clinical depression? Sure, most of us feel sad, lonely, or depressed at times. And feeling depressed is a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles, or an injured self-esteem. But when these feelings become overwhelming and last for long periods of time, they can keep you from leading a normal, active life. That's when it's time to seek medical help.

If left untreated, symptoms of clinical or major depression may worsen and last for years. They can cause untold suffering and possibly lead to suicide. Recognizing the symptoms of depression is often the biggest hurdle to the diagnosis and treatment of clinical or major depression. Unfortunately, approximately half the people who experience symptoms never do get diagnosed or treated for their illness.
Not getting treatment can be life threatening. More than one out of every 10 people battling depression commits suicide.

What are symptoms of depression?

Symptoms of depression may include the following:
•    difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
•    fatigue and decreased energy
•    feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
•    feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
•    insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
•    irritability, restlessness
•    loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
•    overeating or appetite loss
•    persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
•    persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings
•    thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

Are there warning signs of suicide with depression?

Depression carries a high risk of suicide. Anybody who expresses suicidal thoughts or intentions should be taken very, very seriously.
Warning signs of suicide with depression include:
•    a sudden switch from being very sad to being very calm or appearing to be happy
•    always talking or thinking about death
•    clinical depression (deep sadness, loss of interest, trouble sleeping and eating) that gets worse
•    having a "death wish," tempting fate by taking risks that could lead to death, like driving through red lights
•    losing interest in things one used to care about
•    making comments about being hopeless, helpless, or worthless
•    putting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, changing a will
•    saying things like "It would be better if I wasn't here" or "I want out"
•    talking about suicide (killing one's self)

Remember, if you or someone you know is demonstrating any of the above warning signs of suicide with depression, either call your local suicide hot line, contact a mental health professional right away, or go to the emergency room for immediate treatment.

Depression Tests

INSTRUCTIONS
This questionnaire includes questions about symptoms of depression. For each item please indicate how well it
describes you during the PAST WEEK, INCLUDING TODAY. Circle the number in the columns next to the item that best describes you.
 
RATING GUIDELINES
 0=not at all true (0 days)
 1=rarely true (1-2 days)
 2=sometimes true (3-4 days)
 3=often true (5-6 days)
4=almost always true (every day)

During the PAST WEEK, INCLUDING TODAY....

1. I felt sad or depressed.............................................................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
2. I was not as interested in my usual activities...........................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
3. My appetite was poor and I didn't feel like eating...................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
4. My appetite was much greater than usual................................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
5. I had difficulty sleeping..........................................................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
6. I was sleeping too much...........................................................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
7. I felt very fidgety, making it difficult to sit still.......................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
8. I felt physically slowed down, like my body was stuck in mud...............................................................0 1 2 3 4 
9. My energy level was low.........................................................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
10. I felt guilty..............................................................................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
11. I thought I was a failure..........................................................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
12. I had problems concentrating..................................................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
13. I had more difficulties making decisions than usual................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
14. I wished I was dead.................................................................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
15. I thought about killing myself..................................................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
16. I thought that the future looked hopeless.................................................................................................0 1 2 3 4
17. Overall, how much have symptoms of depression interfered with or caused difficulties in your life during the past week?

 0) not at all

 1) a little bit

 2) a moderate amount

 3) quite a bit

 4) extremely

 18. How would you rate your overall quality of life during the past week?

 0) very good, my life could hardly be better
 1) pretty good, most things are going well
 2) the good and bad parts are about equal
 3) pretty bad, most things are going poorly
 4) very bad, my life could hardly be worse

If you scored 25 or higher on this questionnaire  you may be experiencing depression.

When should I seek help for symptoms of depression?

If symptoms of depression are negatively affecting your life -- such as causing difficulties with relationships or work issues or causing family disputes -- and there isn't a clear solution to these problems, then you should seek help. Talking with a mental health counselor or health care professional can help prevent things from getting worse, especially if these symptoms of depression persist for any length of time.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or feelings, you must seek help immediately.

In addition, it's important to understand that feeling depressed does not mean you have a depressive illness. If you have low spirits for a while, don't be concerned. However, if you feel you can't lift yourself out of your symptoms of depression, seek medical help.