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Symptoms of Depression

Psychological Symptoms

• Constant feeling of sadness.
• Feeling of hopelessness and helplessness.
• Lack of self-confidence.
• Desire to cry.
• Feeling of guilt.
• Feeling of rapid emotion and intolerance of others.
• Lack of motivation or interest in things.
• Difficulty making decisions.
• Loss of enjoyment of time and activities in life.
• Feeling of anxiety.
• Thoughts of self-harm.

Physical Symptoms

• Slower movement or speech than usual.
• Decreased or increased appetite and weight.
• Constipation.
• Feeling unexplained pain.
• Decreased energy.
• Menstrual cycle disorders.
• Sleep disturbances such as insomnia and sometimes oversleeping.

Social Symptoms

• Trying to avoid friends and social activities.
• Neglecting hobbies and interests.
• Facing difficulties at home, work, or with family.

How can depression be diagnosed?

If symptoms of depression are observed, you should see a psychiatrist who can perform some tests to confirm the cause of these symptoms and diagnose depression. They may perform the following tests:

• Physical examination.
• Laboratory tests.
• Psychological assessment.
• DSM-5 test.

What factors increase the risk of depression?

• Having a family history of depression or bipolar disorder.
• Having a medical history of other mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, or others.
• Suffering from serious and chronic illnesses.
• Exposure to major psychological problems and stresses or painful events.
• Use of certain medications.

How to get rid of depression symptoms?

There are many ways that can be followed to treat depression, and the doctor can choose the appropriate methods for each person based on their condition. These methods include:

• Self-care: Through exercising, getting enough sleep, and spending time with family and friends.
• Psychotherapy sessions: By talking to a mental health specialist, who can help you identify the problems you are suffering from and ways to deal with and overcome them.
• Medication treatment: There are many antidepressant medication options that the doctor can choose the best one for your case if you need it, but it should be noted not to use these medications without a doctor's prescription.
• Brain stimulation treatment: This is a technique that may be resorted to in cases of severe depression or depression accompanied by psychosis.
• Complementary treatment methods: Such as massage, acupuncture, and others.

When should you see a doctor?

It is important to consult a doctor and seek health care if symptoms of depression are noticed, and these symptoms are affecting life, causing problems in relationships with others, family, work, or others. It is specifically recommended to consult a doctor if the physical symptoms mentioned earlier are observed in addition to the psychological symptoms.