Physical Signs of Depression
How Do You Know if You're Depressed?
You may be at risk for depression because of loss, disrupted brain chemicals, or genetics. Here are some physical signs of depression & information about antidepressants.
There are several physical signs of depression, even in different people. We all get a little depressed now and then; sometimes we feel depressed for no reason at all and other times we're sad about something specific, like the loss of a parent or close friend. Regardless of the cause of depression, some feelings of sadness aren't permanent or debilitating. Some feelings of sadness are easily banished with a change of pace, such as a new job.
However, depression can be a different story. Defining depression is the first step in dealing with it.
Defining Depression by Looking at Physical Signs of Depression
Some feelings of sadness last longer and are worse than a simple case of the blues. Depression affects your everyday functioning and depletes your energy and interests. Everything, even just getting out of bed, takes a huge effort when you're dealing with depression. Things that you once enjoyed become tedious and difficult due to depression.
All of your rhythms are disturbed when you have signs of depression.
Physical Signs of Depression
Your behavior can be physical signs of depression:
- Withdrawal from people, work, pleasures, activities is one of the first signs of depression
- Spurts of restlessness can be signs of depression
- Sighing, crying, moaning
- Difficulty getting out of bed is a sign of depression
- Lower activity and energy levels
- Lack of motivation – it's a physical sign of depression when everything feels like an effort
Your feelings can be physical signs of depression:
- Sadness, misery are "obvious" signs of depression
- Overwhelmed by everyday tasks (eg, cooking dinner)
- Numbness or apathy can be a sign of depression
- Anxiety, tension, irritability
- Helplessness is a sign of depression
- Low confidence and poor self-esteem are often signs of depression
- Disappointment, discouragement, hopelessness
- Feelings of unattractiveness or ugliness can be signs of depression
- Loss of pleasure and enjoyment are signs of depression
Your thinking patterns can be physical signs of depression:
- Inability to make decisions
- Lack of concentration or focus can be a sign of depression
- Loss of interest in activities, people, and life
- Self-criticism, self-blame, self-loathing is often a signs of depression
- Pessimism can be a sign of depression
- Preoccupation with problems and failures can be a sign of depressed feelings
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide can be signs of depression
Your body signals can be physical signs of depression
- Fatigue, low energy, exhaustion are often signs of depression
- Poor sleeping patterns – waking early, not sleeping even when exhausted
- Loss of appetite or, occasionally, increased appetite can be a physical sign of depression
- Loss of sexual interest can be a sign of depression
These lists include a wide range of behaviors that could be signs of depression. If you exhibit one or two in each category, then you may be dealing with depression. If you exhibit just one or two signs of depression (eg, pessimism or loss of sexual interest), then you may be dealing with something other than depression, such as illness. A doctor can help you figure out if you're dealing with depression.
Child abuse, grief, failure, the loss of a friend, or even the death of a pet can trigger feelings of sadness, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're dealing with depression.
Dealing with depression is different for everyone
If you're depressed because you suffered a miscarriage, you may have different signs of depression than your coworker who perhaps has low levels of dopamine or noradrenaline (brain chemicals). The signs of depression will be different as well.
Some depressed people feel worse in the morning, and better as the day wears on. Others feel it at night, and toss and turn until the early hours of the morning. It depends on your personality, situation at home, and even what medications you're taking or illnesses you have.
Getting help with signs of depression
Different causes of depression can cause different signs of depression. They also require different treatments for depression or antidepressants. The first step is to talk to your family doctor or a counselor. Reaching out to people and being as honest as you can is the primary way to get help with depression – and start enjoying life again.
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