Symptoms of Depression

As a hospital chaplain I learned a long time ago that I am not a doctor, so I make no such pretense in talking about medical issues. Such is the case in advancing some learned opinion on “depression,” whatever that is.

If you or someone you love battle with what you may feel is “depression” or trouble just dealing with everyday life, don’t be too quick to make an uneducated diagnosis. We are in an area of inexact science here, but there is a vast body of knowledge out there. Your best bet is to seek help from a professional. We offer the following discussion to help you understand what professional people try to discover in examining their clients.

Moreover, we offer this section because “depression” and the addict/alcoholic experience are so often intertwined. It’s is sometimes a chicken and egg issue—what comes first the alcoholism or the “depression?” Drug addiction and alcohol abuse are in some cases co morbidities that go along with a person’s “depression.” Sorting through everything is sometimes difficult.

Symptoms of Depression

One of the first things we notice about others, and sometimes even about ourselves, is that people become sad. It’s a part of being human. At times some people dip below a certain level, they begin not only to feel sad, but they begin to feel that their life is hopeless. Activities that used to be fun are no longer gratifying.

Sometimes the Symptoms of Depression are there, but we don’t necessarily connect the dots ourselves, which is why diagnosis by a professional is needed. It’s not a black and white issue, and often people slip into the lower levels of experience and it can be hard to recognize that symptoms may be connected and that you might have depression. The professional will examine the factors, and the two most important are hopelessness and a loss of interest in your daily activities.

There are so many factors that a physician or psychologist, or other professional will examine, which include, but are not limited to a change in sleep habits, eating habits, feeling worthless, fatigue, trouble concentrating, thinking about death or suicide, feeling unworthy or guilty for no reason, feeling restless.

Sometimes the symptoms can be misleading. For example, maybe a person is having headaches and body aches, digestive problems, has a low energy level, or maybe it’s a general lethargic feeling. The symptoms may just look like a cold, or something else, but in fact may be depression. Like any medical condition, it is best to get a diagnosis as early as possible. Your doctor is the first one to consult. If you are in fact experiencing depression, your doctor will make the appropriate referral.

The National Institute of Mental Health offers the following list of symptoms of depression, which is not exhaustive, but it gives a fairly complete look at the situation:

1. Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions

2. Fatigue and decreased energy

3. Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness

4. Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism

5. Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping

6. Irritability, restlessness

7. Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex

8. Overeating or appetite loss

9. Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that

do not ease even with treatment

10. Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings

11. Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

There are several types of depression and what you or someone you know may be suffering from is not necessarily depression. It could be some other medical or psychological condition. The types of depression include, Major, Chronic (Dysthymia), Atypical, Postpartum, Bipolar (Manic), Seasonal Affective (SAD), and Psychotic.

When you observe signs of depression, and as a person slips into that condition, the risk of suicide is always a concern. It’s one thing for a person to feel blue, but it’s another for them to want to end their life. There are some tips from WebMD that point to signs of possible suicide:

1. A sudden switch from being very sad to being very calm or appearing to be

happy

2. Always talking or thinking about death

3. Clinical depression (deep sadness, loss of interest, trouble sleeping and

eating) that gets worse

4. Having a "death wish," tempting fate by taking risks that could lead to

death, like driving through red lights

5. Losing interest in things one used to care about

6. Making comments about being hopeless, helpless, or worthless

7. Putting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, changing a will

8. Saying things like "It would be better if I wasn't here" or "I want out"

9. Talking about suicide (killing one's self)

10. Visiting or calling people one cares about

These symptoms, by themselves, may not point directly to a possible suicide attempt, but the pattern of behavior points to the possibility. If a person talks about suicide take the threat seriously. You need to get some support, so call a local suicide hotline, or call 1-800-784-2433 or 1-800-273-8255.

Diagnosis

Because there are so many possible physical symptoms, the first step in diagnosing depression is visiting your doctor. The physician knows what questions to ask and through that process of asking questions can determine when your symptoms started and the possible root of the problem. He/she also has your medical history, which is important.

The doctor can determine the best course of action to help you. In the past, any kind of “mood disorder” was all put into one category, but there is so much more knowledge of emotional and psychological problems, making the treatment programs that much more sophisticated. Unlike other conditions, lab tests, such as blood draws, do not tell the doctor what is going on. The patient is the focal point, so the interview is vital.

Lab tests are used to rule out other diseases, which will imitate symptoms of depression. Your doctor is going to ask what medications you are using and may ask for blood work or a urine test to confirm that information.

The doctor/patient relationship is important. You can do into a clinic with a broken arm and feel confident that a doctor will set the bone, put your arm in a cast and in a few weeks the bone will heal. Because the diagnosis of depression requires a complete emotional and psychological workup, the patient needs to be honest and open.

Family members also need to be prepared to help provide information, which might give the doctor insights into the patient’s experience. The patient should also ask questions. Tell the doctor what you are concerned about and make sure there is understanding.

There is hope. People are complicated. Life is complicated. But there is help out there for those suffering from “depression” or drug and alcohol abuse. It starts with that visit to a doctor, so do not be afraid to make the first step.

For more about Symptoms of Depression go to our home page

Symptoms of Depression Symptoms of Depression Symptoms of Depression Symptoms of Depression

HOW TO USE THIS SITE:

This site contains five MAIN pages that EVERYONE should read:

ABOUT…

SYMPTOMS…

CAUSES…

TREATMENT…

RECOVERY…

Read these five pages and learn what you need to know to spot Alcoholic in:

Yourself... Your Family... Your Friends... Your Community...

The rest of the pages are there for your reference to explain important topics in more detail.

Finally does not miss the Spiritual and 12-step sections to fully explore how understanding THE SPIRIT can lead to recovery!