At present time, depression is ahead of all other mental disorders on the extent of the damage concerning capacity for work. The considerable proportion of patients with depressive disorders call for a help in general network. However, only 10-30% cases of depression are detected in proper time. At present test the symptoms of depression and its difficulty are in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th revision (ICD-10), but filled with concrete content from our private medical practice.
Typical (main) symptoms of depression:
- The mood is bad, depressed, nasty, dismal, “there’s a gnawing in your heart”
- “You are browned off everything”: you put off some plans or for a long time you make yourself for their performance. There is no desire going into the heart of the matter, – you know that you must do it, but you take any measures. The production decisions and business acquaintances you also leave over until tomorrow. You are not interested in something, you do not want to do anything, but you know that you should do it. There is no pleasure like before – “You are past caring.” You couldn’t remember when you were happy.
- You are tired even after unimportant physical exercises, or in the evening you are completely unable. It may be the feeling of constant tiredness. It seems that you have never had a rest. You want to refuse from routine, rather to take a break and muster your strength. However, brief rest does not improve the condition, and amusements fast lose their attraction.
Other symptoms of depression:
- It is difficult to concentrate in the presence of an irritant (for example, by television, radio, conversation in the next room); because of «parallel» thoughts – «while reading I am thoughtful of others». It becomes difficult to pick words or to catch the meaning of the conversation. While reading books, magazines or commercial papers it is also hardly to find their meaning, you have to reread it once again.
- After taking a decision, it appears unusual for you indecision, constant doubts in ordinary domestic or well-known professional duties. The self-reliance has disappeared, – «What if I say too much or do something wrong».
- The critical appraisal of all past life is quite possible. «Everything that I have had in the past is useless. I had to do other things». You experience painful feeling of the «black sheep» in the family and «white crow» in the work. You reproach yourself in filial irresponsible duties or in insufficient care concerning other next of kin.
- Your mind is filled with sad thoughts, that you are «loser» and you are not able to solve the problems. There is an ascertaining of full professional failure. The dismal and pessimistic vision of the future may be filled with quite concrete life conditions.
- Sometimes it occurs to you – «Perhaps it would be better to pass away, because everything is bad, nonsensical, the life has lost its meaning since».
- The sleep disorder is quite varied. This includes difficult falling asleep; reduction of night sleep because of frequent awakenings; the awaking at 3-4 o’clock at night or at 5 in the morning with following sleeplessness. At all kinds of sleep disorders there is no sense of rest in the morning.
- You have jaded appetite («I can do with one cup of tea during the day»), or you can even have aversion to food’s sort or its smell.
Depression self-testing
In event that you do not get some of three symptoms (main and extra list), so you do not have depressed mood according to ICD-10.
Mild depressive disorder
The presence of 2 typical symptoms of depression and at least 2 symptoms from the list of “a-g”. You are worried about your state. You feel certain difficulties by work performance or by social activity.
Moderate depressive disorder
The presence of 2 typical symptoms of depression and at least 3 symptoms (preferably 4) from the list of “a-g”. There are formidable difficulties in performance of social duties, housekeeping or by continuation of professional activity.
Major depressive disorder
The presence of all 3 typical depressed symptoms or more than 4 from the list of “a-g”. The social and home activities can be very limited or improbable.
If you have a depressed mood in accordance with the criteria, your state may be exacerbated with a number of additional painful displays:
- You want to be alone, shut yourself off from everybody;
- The next of kin notice that you become silent and you stop smiling;
- The relations with relatives and colleagues become complicated with unusual for you irritability and aggression;
- The feeling of weight in the chest, («A weight sits heavy on my heart»), or an ache in the left part of the chest or burning pain behind breastbone.
- It appears unnatural for you slowness in movements, or on the contrary, moving excitement and anxiety, (« I have the heebie-jeebies»).
- During depression the sexual drive may decrease, («I do not even think about it»).
- You feel bad especially in the morning or in the afternoon. By the evening you feel better (typical diurnal rhythm of disturbance mood)
- The attempt to improve your state with a help of alcohol brings only temporary and unstable effect.
In case if you find by yourself or by some member of your family the foundation for depression self-testing, you should seek a psychological help.
Depression Symptoms & Help : What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Depression?
Tags: anxiety, appetite, depression symptoms, depressive disorders, disinterest, ICD-10, joyless, pessimism