Main signs that may indicate depression

Loss of energy, lack of desire to perform activities that gave pleasure and constant tiredness may indicate depression. In addition, weight loss can occur for no apparent reason and difficulty sleeping, because there is a decrease in serotonin, which is the hormone of pleasure and well-being.

Generally, signs of depression are present for more than 2 weeks, and it is necessary to go to the psychologist to diagnose the disease and start treatment, which usually includes the use of antidepressants, anxiolytics and psychotherapy sessions.

Thus, some of the most common signs that can indicate depression include:

1. Loss of energy and constant tiredness

Loss of energy and lack of interest in activities that used to be interesting and pleasurable, such as going to the movies, going out to dinner or strolling on the beach, can indicate depression. In addition, the lack of motivation to cook, work or socialize with friends is also present due to constant tiredness.

2. Feeling of deep sadness

The presence of profound sadness usually manifests itself through a sad face, droopy eyes, dullness and a curved torso. It is still common for the person to have bouts of crying or crying very easily, prevailing the feeling of pessimism, feelings of guilt and low self-esteem.

It is also common to experience a feeling of worthlessness, and for this reason, people who are going into depression have the desire to isolate themselves from friends and family, before thinking about more severe solutions such as suicide.

3. Easy irritability or slowness

Due to deep sadness, irritability, attacks of anger and anxiety are common, causing symptoms such as tremors, an uncontrollable urge to scream and even excessive sweating. However, at times, due to frequent tiredness and sadness, the person may appear to be more sluggish, which ends up affecting the thinking and the way he speaks.

In addition, there may be difficulty in concentration and memory loss, with moments of enormous devolution that affect work and school.

4. Pain and changes in the body

Depression can also cause constant headache, due to poor nights and mood changes, and there may also be a feeling of tightness in the chest and heaviness in the legs.

Hair loss, weak nails, swollen legs and back and stomach pain are also frequent, as well as vomiting and tremors, which are often known as psychosomatic symptoms.

5. Sleep problems and weight changes

It is normal to have insomnia, especially the type in which the person wakes up at dawn and cannot fall asleep again, waking up with a lot of tiredness and malaise.

In addition, another physical symptom of depression is the loss of more than 5% of body weight for no apparent reason. In some cases, weight gain may occur, manifesting a special desire to eat sweets.

How to confirm the diagnosis of depression

In order to confirm a picture of depression, it is necessary to have at least 5 symptoms, out of the 9 indicated below, and must also be present for at least 2 consecutive weeks:

1. Depressed mood, which can be manifested by: sadness, feeling empty, without hope, easy crying. In children, irritability can indicate depression; Loss of pleasure in activities that they previously enjoyed a lot; Weight loss or weight gain, losing at least 5% of weight in just 1 month, without being on a diet. Increased or decreased appetite on most days; Having difficulty sleeping, experiencing insomnia or having excessive sleep, and sleeping for many hours, even during the day; You may feel agitated or, on the contrary, with slowing movements; Feeling always tired and lacking in energy; feeling useless or always guilty of everything, inappropriately; difficulty concentrating and making decisions; having thoughts of death, such as being afraid of dying or thinking about suicide, or even attempting previous suicide.

Although there may be suspicions of depression, the diagnosis can only be made by a professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, who needs to talk to the patient and the family. The doctor should also indicate the severity of the depression, as being mild, moderate or severe, to suit the treatment.

Online depression test

If you think you may have depression, take the test below and see what your risk is:

1. 1. I feel like I like to do the same things as before Yes No
2. 2. I laugh spontaneously and have fun with funny things Yes No
3. 3. There are times during the day when I feel happy Yes No
4. 4. I feel like I have a quick thought Yes No
5. 5. I like to take care of my appearance Yes No
6. 6. I feel excited about good things to come Yes No
7. 7. I feel pleasure when I watch a program on television or read a book Yes No

How the treatment is done

Treatment for a possible condition of depression should always be guided by a psychologist and / or a psychiatrist. In most cases, this treatment is started with psychotherapy sessions, as well as taking some medications to help control symptoms more quickly.

The most used remedies are antidepressants, such as Amitriptyline or Fluoxetine, but it may also be necessary to supplement vitamin B6 and omega 3. The doctor may also recommend the use of anxiolytics to sleep better and control anxiety, such as Alprazolam.

In addition to medications, it is important to adopt new lifestyle habits, such as practicing physical activity regularly, eating properly, eating many vegetables and fruits because they are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as bananas or tomatoes, for example.

Check in more detail the most used options to treat depression.