A Quick Overview of Depression Symptoms
The symptoms of depression are usually quite unspecific at first. We will tell you which signs you should pay particular attention to and what helps.
How do I recognize a depression?
It is not always easy to distinguish a transient depressive mood from a tangible depression (also: exhaustion depression), because the depression symptoms resemble the signs of a slight mental depression. Particularly at the beginning of the depressive episode, those affected suffer from relatively unspecific symptoms that can develop over a longer period of time. The causes can include drastic life events such as the loss of a loved one or a separation.
Depression symptoms at a glance
There are various physical and psychological symptoms of depression that become apparent early on and can also be noticed by relatives. These include:
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Lassitude
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
- Listlessness
- Sad mood
- Non-specific pain, e.g. abdominal pain or headache
- Diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract
- Concentration problems
- Hopelessness
- Loss of drive
- Feelings of anxiety
The severity of the depression symptoms also depends on the time of day: in the morning they are therefore usually stronger than in the afternoon.
The more the depression progresses, the stronger the symptoms of the illness become – and the more can be added. At some point, sufferers often don’t even want to get out of bed and are completely joyless. They are no longer interested in social activities or hobbies. In the worst case, suicidal thoughts may occur at some point. Therefore, depression should be treated.
Reading tip: Everything about burnout symptoms can be found here.
Signs of depression: What happens in the head?
Different areas of the brain are affected by depression: the regions that control feelings and emotions as well as those that are responsible for memory, concentration and our learning and memory skills. As a result, things that are otherwise simple and routine for us become difficult – such as understanding messages or long texts. For some patients, these problems remain even if they have managed to control their depression through treatment (e.g. psychotherapy).