WOX-XION

#5 Sleep and eating disorders Pay special attention to the word ‘disorder’. Read: it can go both ways. Sleeping too much can be a sign of depression, but so can sleeping too little. Same with food. Both losing and gaining appetite are known to be symptoms of depression. And it can get extreme. No sleep or sleep at all for a couple of days. Normally these are pretty strong signs something is going wrong. Not necessarily depression though. But in combination with other symptoms of depression, the signs are getting pretty alarming.

#4 Losing interest in enjoyable things One of the major symptoms of depression is losing interest in normally enjoyable activities. Things like fishing, hanging out with the boys, playing ball on a Sunday afternoon, reading a book – whatever your hobbies are. And almost the same: not being able to enjoy those little, simple things in everyday life – like the smile of a child or a breathtaking sunset.
Pay especially close attention when you (or someone else) start avoiding get-togethers with close friends and relatives. Are you backing out because you are just tired or is your action just a disguised cry for attention? And if you are ‘just tired’, ask yourself if you really are that tired…
Oh, and by the way: on how many get-togethers did you pass this last month?

#3 Fatigue. Plain, old fashioned fatigue. Feeling tired getting up in the morning, feeling tired hitting the sheets. Close to feeling exhausted. Both physical and mental. And probably without being to able to pinpoint where this 24/7 feeling comes from.

When there is no medical problem and this feeling of exhaustion lasts for several days, even if you slowed down a bit and have taken some days off, you have a very good reason to see your doctor. It’s a major sign of depression.

It isn’t too hard to explain why feeling tired can be a sign of depression. People suffering from depression, lose interest in every day life. Everything they do, feels like a waist of time. It’s a burden. Even activities that used to lift their spirits, end up being an energy drain.
And that isn’t all. People suffering from depression tend to have their eating and sleeping pattern disturbed. That is an energy drain itself.

It’s a combination of factors why old fashioned fatigue can be considered a sign of depression.

#2 People start to pick up signals. How often have you been asked “Are you ok?” for the last couple of weeks? More then usual? If that’s the case, maybe you should start investigating if you recognize some other signs of depression as well.

Fact is, most people that really know you well, have a pretty accurate radar. Without being fully aware of your situation, they may just pick up signals that you haven’t picked up yet. Listen to these people. They may be right…

On the other hand, if you think some one close to you is depressed, ask him of her how often he or she has been asked that question. It sounds too simple to be true, but trust me, it’s a pretty good indication if it’s time to take action.

This list isn’t about all signs of depression. In fact, there are many more. This list however, is about the 10 most common ones. Signs and symptoms we should all learn to recognize and read.
Why? Because in the end, it can saves lives.
This list of 10 symptoms isn’t geared to a specific type of depression. Therefore it isn’t true at all that a patient has to show each and every symptom to be diagnosed depressed. Two is the number to get alert. Three is a reason to take a real close look. Four is the number to seek help.

#1 Prolonged period of sadness. You saw that one coming didn’t you? Pay special attention to the word ‘prolonged’. Heck, we all feel sad every now and then. A day. Two days. Sometimes even more. It’s getting serious and dangerous when this feeling lasts longer. A week is a wake up call. Try to figure out where this mood comes from. If you can’t explain the source, see if you recognize more signs of depression. No need to panic yet, but time to some homework.

Stay tuned for more…