Sadness and disappointments are a part of life. While it is normal to feel depressed after a serious event such as bereavement, sometimes a real discomfort sets in. This could be a sign of depression (also called a nervous breakdown), which requires adequate treatment to overcome. So depression or just temporary sadness? Here are the signs that never fail.
Intense sadness sign of depression
The first sign of depression is, of course, a deep sadness. It is particularly painful, incomprehensible, and invasive.
It can be accompanied by unexplained crying and a feeling of hopelessness, a feeling that everything is wrong, that everything is dark, and that nothing good can happen to us.
Of course, we regularly feel sad: life isn't all about joy. But the bad mood always ends up passing ... except in the depressed. He is locked in his sadness which is almost permanent (upon waking up).
Note: Depression, and the sadness that results from it, cannot be resolved by the consolation and emotionality of loved ones. A "normal" sadness will be sensitive to the comfort of others. The depression is so strong that only the right Medication-Assisted Treatment (drugs and psychotherapy) allows the person to get out of it, and only then can they grab a helping hand.
Loss of interest and pleasure
In normal times, for example, we can feel sad or unhappy in our work, and say to each other "very much the next vacation ", or "very much my next job ". We always have a desire in our troubles, a desire for a change of air. Conversely, the depressed person will not even want anything else.
This loss of interest is characteristic of depression. It affects all areas of life. Thus, everyday life's small pleasures such as listening to music, seeing friends, reading ... disappear.
Everything seems even dull, without interest. Life has lost all meaning, all taste. This symptom can lead some to have suicidal thoughts.
Great fatigue
Another sign that does not deceive: the severe fatigue that is present even without making special efforts. People with depression constantly have a feeling of low energy, which neither sleep nor rest can improve.
Life slowed down by depression
Depression causes a general slowdown. Therefore, it takes more time to complete the usual tasks. People with depression are overwhelmed by fatigue; they don't speak, don't dare to do the activities they used to do, or get involved in their work or social relationships (with friends or family).
The person feels that they are no longer able to react. He has the impression of being out of step with the others: as if everyone was going at a different pace than him, not on the same frequency.
Concentration disorders and depression
The person who suffers from depression also experiences intellectual fatigue, which results in:
- A lack of concentration,
- A decrease in attention,
- Of memory difficulties and memory loss, etc.
We have the impression that thoughts are slowed down, that we have trouble thinking or expressing ourselves. So much so that some people sometimes wonder if they do not have Alzheimer's: but behind these "false memory lapses" are hidden real depressive problems.
Insomnia and other sleep disorders
In the event of depression, sleep is disturbed.
- It is often of poor quality, shallower, very short, and not very repairing.
- It is not uncommon to suffer from insomnia when depressed.
- Mornings are often marked by waking up very early, with the inability to go back to sleep.
- On the contrary, the sick person has an excessive need for sleep (permanent desire to sleep). But this "too much" sleep is unsatisfying and rather mind-numbing.
Decreased libido
Sexual life is affected by depression. Sexual desire and pleasure can decrease or even disappear. The realization of the sexual act then becomes difficult. As a result, the spouse sometimes has the impression of being neglected, accentuating the tension in a couple's life.
Self-esteem, guilt, and depression
Another sign of depression: the fact of devaluing yourself. The person thinks that they are good for nothing and no longer have any self-esteem. The feeling of failure keeps coming back. It can even go beyond the professional framework to touch family life: the depressed thinks that he does not deserve his family life, that the love that others have for him is not justified.
This feeling can be added to a feeling of abandonment, worthlessness, loneliness, and coexists with the feeling of not being loved by others, having nothing to say that could interest them, or worthless.
People with depression analyze life events and the opinions of others from a consistently negative, pessimistic perspective.
Loss of appetite
Physical signs often accompany depression. We mainly note the loss of appetite. Thus, the preparation of meals becomes a chore; their schedules are irregular, their composition unbalanced. Weight loss is often an important sign in diagnosing depression.
On the contrary, some depressed people have an increased appetite with cravings (especially sweets), leading to weight gain.
Somatic manifestations and depression
Depression isn't all in the head. They are also physical symptoms. If fatigue, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbances are frequent, other somatic manifestations may appear such as pain such as:
- Headache,
- Pain in the joints,
- Digestive problems.
If you recognize yourself in more than one of the above situations, you may be suffering from depression. Do not hesitate to see your doctor, who can make the correct diagnosis and help you regain the joy of living.