Dr Prabhjot Gill About Depression Signs & Symptoms

What Is Depression?

Feeling sad, left out, or upset is a common thing. It can happen to any of us. But, if this feeling grows so severe that it causes prolonged and notable discomfort on us then we must give it a second thought because it can be a case of clinical depression.That is the exact time to seek medical help. 

It is always recommended to visit your go-to doctor primarily. He/she can test you for depression and decide the course of treatment further. It is as essential as any other physical medical condition. If you let it go untreated, it can create problems & last even for years. It is capable of ruining your peace of mind and can lead to something as serious as suicide. 

For any query kindly contact Dr Prabhjot Gill.

In this case, the most significant step is to identify the symptoms and take measures accordingly. Patients mostly do not realize that they are depressed. It leads to even more grave problems in the future.

Most common symptoms of Depression:

• You find it difficult to concentrate.
• Difficulty in remembering details.
• Indecisiveness. 
• Fatigue. 
• You feel guilty & helpless at the same time.
• Pessimism becomes a habit.
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping.
• You get irritated easily.
• You become restless. 
• Lack of interest in sex.
• Overeating or not eating at all.
• You keep on having either some aches or cramps. You are never absolutely healthy.
• Chronic digestive issues.
• Anxiety issues.
• Constant feeling of loneliness. 
• Suicidal thoughts.
• Fluctuating weight.

Amongst all the issues mentioned above, the most notable ones are weight fluctuations, sleep disorders, irritability, pessimism, and of course, your suicidal thoughts. 

Eating habits & weight fluctuation:

For someone suffering from depression, weight fluctuations & loss of appetite is very common. It varies from people to people. Some people can as well resort to overeating, and therefore they tend to put on weight. Dietary changes can be one of the most common signs of depressions.

Fatigue & sleep disorders:

Tiredness or fatigue can be one of the prime reasons for not having enough energy. Depression kills your energy level, and you do not feel like doing anything at all. This loss of activity can drive you to sleep more. Excessive sleeping can be counted as an easy escape from the problems that lie ahead of you.

Insomnia and depression are connected. One can lead to the other or make it worse. It can also be the cause of chronic anxiety attacks.

Irritability:

Depression affects men & women differently. Studies show that men suffering from depression show symptoms like anger issues, escapism, risky behavior, and most commonly irritability.

Often, men do not come out easily & ask help for depression as women do, but it is high time that they start doing it. 

Pessimism: 

It is a common thing to do while suffering from depression. Becoming pessimist and having a hopeless approach towards life, in general, is very much a symptom of depression. You start to feel either negative or hopeless about anything and everything about you.

Other such feelings can be self-hatred or unnecessary guilt trips. The most common sentence that you make up in your mind is,’ it is my fault’ or ‘I shouldn’t have done that’ or maybe ‘why am I doing this?’. 

Suicidal thoughts:

Depression can drive you crazy. You might start to feel suicidal. A Patient who dies by suicide does not do it all at once. They do it in a certain pattern. They show signs and they talk of death a lot or killing themselves. They also have records of many failed attempts. If you ever feel that you or someone else is at risk, you must ask for help at once. If your depression is pushing you to end your life, then you must seek help. All of us deserve to live and that too happily.

Conclusion:

Depression is no joke. It must be taken seriously. If it takes over your mind then seeking help is a necessity. If you feel that you or anyone in your contacts are displaying these symptoms then you get yourself diagnosed and start treatment early. We hope that this article helps to identify your blues soon. 

“Dr Prabhjot Gill MBBS MRCGP(2016)”