For those of you who have been depressed before or know people who are depressed...what would you consider to be the most common signs of depression?

I pulled this up on the Web.


Symptoms of Depression


Symptoms of depression range from the obvious low mood to the seemingly unrelated tell tale sign of memory loss. The severity and types of symptoms vary with individuals and vary over time. Since depression manifests itself with such a wide array of experiences, it may difficult to diagnose and often goes untreated. Recognizing the symptoms, however, is the most important step in successful treatment of depression. These symptoms include:

• Persistent sad or "empty" mood
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Unexplained crying
• Fatigue or unexplained loss of energy
• Loss of enthusiasm
• Memory loss
• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feelings of being in "slow motion"
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Feelings of pessimism
• Feelings of guilt
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
• Decreased interest in sex
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
•Thoughts of death or suicide or attempted suicide

Originally posted by Janice

• Decreased interest in sex


Not necessarily. :)

I didn't know I had it at all until my mom finally said something to me. She was absolutely right. I was starting fights with everyone for no reason, eating far too much, had no interest in going out with my friends, didn't do my homework, didn't care about school... it was not a good place to be. If you suspect you may have depression, ask a member of your family - they will know. :)

Originally posted by pandora_spocks
Not necessarily. :)
It is a symptom of depression, yet it doesn't mean someone is depressed if this or any of the other signs affect a person. :)

Originally posted by Janice
It is a symptom of depression, yet it doesn't mean someone is depressed if this or any of the other signs affect a person. :)

Yes, I know it's a sign of depression. I have depression and very bad case I might add, but I don't have a decrease interest in sex. I'm just saying not everyone who is depressed has that sign.

Originally posted by Janice
• Persistent sad or "empty" mood
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Unexplained crying
• Fatigue or unexplained loss of energy
• Loss of enthusiasm
• Memory loss
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Feelings of pessimism
• Feelings of guilt
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
•Thoughts of death or suicide or attempted suicide
oh my, those all apply to me.

i read in some medical book some symptoms of depression. the ones i remember were-

sleeping problems
loss of previous interests
saying "it's my fault" "i'm ugly" "i'm stupid" etc
moving and walking unenthusiastically

Mine were...not caring about school and grades like I used to, insomnia, and crying more than normal. My anxiety disorder made me depressed because of all the things it was restricting me from doing that I used to do just fine.

Originally posted by Janice
• Persistent sad or "empty" mood
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Unexplained crying
• Fatigue or unexplained loss of energy
• Loss of enthusiasm
• Memory loss
• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feelings of being in "slow motion"
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Feelings of pessimism
• Feelings of guilt
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
•Thoughts of death or suicide or attempted suicide

I re-read all those symptoms and I have all of those except 'decreased interest in sex.' It's kind of sad I identify will all those. I should print this list out and take it with me when I go to see the doctor. Of course, with all the other stuff thats wrong with me they'll give me the best room in the nuthouse.

Originally posted by Janice
I pulled this up on the Web.


Symptoms of Depression


Symptoms of depression range from the obvious low mood to the seemingly unrelated tell tale sign of memory loss. The severity and types of symptoms vary with individuals and vary over time. Since depression manifests itself with such a wide array of experiences, it may difficult to diagnose and often goes untreated. Recognizing the symptoms, however, is the most important step in successful treatment of depression. These symptoms include:

I have 12 of those... :grr:

-being "down" for long periods of time
-abnormal weight loss or gain
-insomnia
-irritability
-memory loss or difficulty concentrating
-crying for no real reason
-loss of interest in normal activities

I have been suffering through depression myself and have mood swings and people don't understand why and how I suffer from depression and/or know what depression is like because they never have to suffer from it like I do. But if they understood and/or went through depression like myself, they would be more understanding. It has cost me three jobs, two I quit and one I was terminated. People treat depression like a headache. It's like treating cancer like just a "sickness and/or headache" and people are ignorant to not be sympathetic to what people are going through with depression!!

I've been suffering through depression for over 10 years. It was only jusr recently diagnosed. I had all those signs and then some. The one that caught MY attention and got me to ask for help was suicide. I can remember driving in my car feeling really down and thinking how easy it would be just to crash my car into one of the buildings and end it all.

I had that thought in my head about 3 seconds before I was thinking, "What the hell am I thinking?" That scared me VERY badly.

I started watching myself and seeing me get into all of these different moods. I would snap at the least little thing. I hardly slept at all. If I did, I would fall asleep about 5 am and be up at 6. I finally saw a comercial on TV for Zoloft saying if you have any of these signs, you could have depression.

So I started doing research on the net. I found this place that had a survey to take. I took the survey and it said It was VERY probable that I had a very bad case of depression and to go see my doctor as soon as possible. I was scared so I didn't go to the doctor right away. I thought "I know this now so I can handle it"

Don't fool your self into thinking that! Mine just got worse and worse until once again I was contemplatng suicide. At that point I went to my parents. I'll admit...I'm in my 20's but I was crying as I told my parents how I had been feeling and what I feared was wrong with me. I then showed them a list of symptoms I had found on the net and told them that was me. I had all of those symptoms and Suicide kept running through my mind.

My parents were so supportive of me. I made an appointment with my doctor and they both took off of work and came with me. I could hardly speak I was crying so much. I took that list to the doctor and when she asked what was wrong I handed her the list and said, "That's me," as I was crying.

I was put on meds and I have been through several before we found some that seems to work. My memory still stinks and I can still loose my temper sometimes..but that feeling of......being in the middle of a black hole with no way out is gone. I'm seeing both a councelor as well as a shrink until I get this under control.

The first step is to admit to yourself that something is wrong and to understand that IT IS NOT your fault. It's an illness. Even after you have been diagnosed, this won't go away quickly. It takes time...a long time to totally get over it.

If you even suspect you MIGHT have depression talk to somebody...anybody! I've had several friends who commited suicide because of depression and I was bound and determined that that wasn't going to happen to me. But looking back, if it hadn't of been for that Zoloft commercial i probably would have within the week. I was that close...don't let that happen to you. Talk to somebody and go see your doctor. They can put you on the right path.

D

Originally posted by Janice
• Persistent sad or "empty" mood
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Unexplained crying
• Fatigue or unexplained loss of energy
• Loss of enthusiasm
• Memory loss
• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feelings of being in "slow motion"
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Feelings of pessimism
• Feelings of guilt
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
•Thoughts of death or suicide or attempted suicide

Got 'em all.. =/

Originally posted by Janice


• Persistent sad or "empty" mood
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Unexplained crying
• Fatigue or unexplained loss of energy
• Loss of enthusiasm
• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Feelings of pessimism
• Feelings of guilt
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
•Thoughts of death or suicide or attempted suicide

Yeah that's me. Plus you add in the fact that I have symptoms of personality disorders like obsessive compulsive, anti-social, etc, and I'm one big crackpot.

Originally posted by Kaffeine Kay
Yeah that's me. Plus you add in the fact that I have symptoms of personality disorders like obsessive compulsive, anti-social, etc, and I'm one big crackpot.

Are you also a borderline? I think I have that too. I did some reading about it online and I seem to have the symptoms for it.

Originally posted by Janice

• Persistent sad or "empty" mood
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Unexplained crying
• Fatigue or unexplained loss of energy
• Loss of enthusiasm
• Memory loss
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feelings of being in "slow motion"
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Feelings of pessimism
• Feelings of guilt
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain


Well, I've got EVERY one on the list except the suicide, decreased interest in sex (I REALLY do think that THAT, as a basal human instinct, really IS the last one to go), and unexplained weight change.

:( sam u r depressing me, stop it!

It pisses me off so badly when i see people trying to be depressed to be "cool" it just makes me want to die.

Originally posted by pandora_spocks
Are you also a borderline? I think I have that too. I did some reading about it online and I seem to have the symptoms for it.

I seem to have symptoms for every disorder except Histronic and Narcissistic... although they believe I'm Bi-Polar, so that's like everything bundled into one big package. Charming. I haven't officially been diagnosed, since my last few shrinks were crackpots themselves, I'm seeing a new one in a few weeks. Maybe then I'll finally get to the bottom of this.

But I see what you mean aboit borderline.. I see everything in "black and white", as the old cliche goes.

Originally posted by Kaffeine Kay
I seem to have symptoms for every disorder except Histronic and Narcissistic... although they believe I'm Bi-Polar, so that's like everything bundled into one big package. Charming. I haven't officially been diagnosed, since my last few shrinks were crackpots themselves, I'm seeing a new one in a few weeks. Maybe then I'll finally get to the bottom of this.

But I see what you mean aboit borderline.. I see everything in "black and white", as the old cliche goes.

I probably have almost every disorder out there too. I took some online quiz, which I'm sure isn't all that accurate but somehow I think it is for me. I pretty much got a 'very high' for everything listed and maybe one or two 'high's'. I could use a shrink, but I'm afraid to just open up especially to someone I don't even know. I don't even like to open up to people I do know and not that it matters cause I've never been really close to anyone. I've been hurt a lot so I've kinda kept my distance from everyone. I constantly feel like where I'm at now isn't even real and it's like some coma state and I'm trying to wake up, but can't. Have you ever felt like that?

Thanks to everyone who posted. Especially Janice. That was really helpful. In the last few months, I've had people come to me and tell me that they think I'm depressed. I kept telling them that I wasnt. And my mom wanted me to go to therapy but I thought I didnt need it. And now I'm not so sure. So yeah, that list was really helpful and I do most of those symptoms. So we'll see what happens from here.

Originally posted by pandora_spocks
I probably have almost every disorder out there too. I took some online quiz, which I'm sure isn't all that accurate but somehow I think it is for me. I pretty much got a 'very high' for everything listed and maybe one or two 'high's'. I could use a shrink, but I'm afraid to just open up especially to someone I don't even know. I don't even like to open up to people I do know and not that it matters cause I've never been really close to anyone. I've been hurt a lot so I've kinda kept my distance from everyone. I constantly feel like where I'm at now isn't even real and it's like some coma state and I'm trying to wake up, but can't. Have you ever felt like that?

I feel exactly like that. I feel like I'm drowning and I can't reach the top. I don't know why I bother to get out of bed anymore. I'm ****ing crazy, I swear it. There's something just not right with me in my head. I hear things and hallucinate, and that's not fun, because it makes you think you belong in freakin Bellevue or something.

I know what you mean about opening up to people.. the only reason I see shrinks is because I used to want to get better, but now I don't know if I even care anymore, because I'll be like this forever, so what's the point? There's only one real person I can open up to, I feel like she's the only person I have. The only one I trust.

Originally posted by safety pin
It pisses me off so badly when i see people trying to be depressed to be "cool" it just makes me want to die.

just go make out with some punk rawker with his toungue peirced, then it'll get cought on your oh-so-rawker toungue ring [you know with the little pink skull on top?] then you'll be forced to have your cut toungue off... then we wont have to hear another word out of your mouth... K?

Originally posted by IownTheDivision69
just go make out with some punk rawker with his toungue peirced, then it'll get cought on your oh-so-rawker toungue ring [you know with the little pink skull on top?] then you'll be forced to have your cut toungue off... then we wont have to hear another word out of your mouth... K?
oh my god. what was that for? AND WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP ACCUSING ME OF TRYING TO BE A PUNK? GOD DAMN YOU ALL.

Originally posted by IownTheDivision69
just go make out with some punk rawker with his toungue peirced, then it'll get cought on your oh-so-rawker toungue ring [you know with the little pink skull on top?] then you'll be forced to have your cut toungue off... then we wont have to hear another word out of your mouth... K? :lol:

Originally posted by TradingMooses
:lol:
I dont know what your problem with me is either but apparently youve been avoiding ever since yesterday when i asked you how i try to get attention and start every fight.

Originally posted by IownTheDivision69
just go make out with some punk rawker with his toungue peirced, then it'll get cought on your oh-so-rawker toungue ring [you know with the little pink skull on top?] then you'll be forced to have your cut toungue off... then we wont have to hear another word out of your mouth... K?

Wow, that was really immature.

Originally posted by Kaffeine Kay
I feel exactly like that. I feel like I'm drowning and I can't reach the top. I don't know why I bother to get out of bed anymore. I'm ****ing crazy, I swear it. There's something just not right with me in my head. I hear things and hallucinate, and that's not fun, because it makes you think you belong in freakin Bellevue or something.

I know what you mean about opening up to people.. the only reason I see shrinks is because I used to want to get better, but now I don't know if I even care anymore, because I'll be like this forever, so what's the point? There's only one real person I can open up to, I feel like she's the only person I have. The only one I trust.

Nice to know someone out there shares the same feeling. Especially, when you feel like this you tend to feel all alone. I don't halluncinate, but I get dizzy spells a lot when I'm depressed. I don't know maybe I'm just weird.

I've never been good at explaining my feelings. I just don't think anyone gets it so why try to explain. I don't really have a lot of support here at home anyway so why bother?

Originally posted by pandora_spocks
Nice to know someone out there shares the same feeling. Especially, when you feel like this you tend to feel all alone. I don't halluncinate, but I get dizzy spells a lot when I'm depressed. I don't know maybe I'm just weird.

I've never been good at explaining my feelings. I just don't think anyone gets it so why try to explain. I don't really have a lot of support here at home anyway so why bother?

Hey, just curious.. do you have an IM? I know you don't want to post it on the board so if you want to PM me or something.. if you don't want to give it out, I udnerstand :)

• Persistent sad or "empty" mood
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Unexplained crying
• Fatigue or unexplained loss of energy
• Loss of enthusiasm
• Memory loss
• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feelings of being in "slow motion"
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Feelings of pessimism
• Feelings of guilt
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
• Decreased interest in sex
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
•Thoughts of death or suicide or attempted suicide

Wow... I have almost all of those.

Originally posted by Kaffeine Kay
Hey, just curious.. do you have an IM? I know you don't want to post it on the board so if you want to PM me or something.. if you don't want to give it out, I udnerstand :)

Yeah, I'll im you the next time I get on. I really don't get on aim a whole lot anymore though.

Originally posted by Ags2000
I've been suffering through depression for over 10 years. It was only jusr recently diagnosed. I had all those signs and then some. The one that caught MY attention and got me to ask for help was suicide. I can remember driving in my car feeling really down and thinking how easy it would be just to crash my car into one of the buildings and end it all.


I've thought that.

Originally posted by pandora_spocks
Yeah, I'll im you the next time I get on. I really don't get on aim a whole lot anymore though.

Cool beans :)

Originally posted by -*Forever*-
• Persistent sad or "empty" mood
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Unexplained crying
• Fatigue or unexplained loss of energy
• Loss of enthusiasm
• Memory loss
• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Feelings of being in "slow motion"
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Feelings of pessimism
• Feelings of guilt
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Feelings of helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
• Decreased interest in sex
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
•Thoughts of death or suicide or attempted suicide

Wow... I have almost all of those.

Me, too.

i can identify with a lot of these signs. it kinda scares me that so many people seem to be depressed or sad but when you meet them in real life you can't tell how they really feel because everybody acts so happy as if everything was fine...

but as you can see here in this thread again... it just isnt :/

Originally posted by TheBert
i can identify with a lot of these signs. it kinda scares me that so many people seem to be depressed or sad but when you meet them in real life you can't tell how they really feel because everybody acts so happy as if everything was fine...

but as you can see here in this thread again... it just isnt :/

Its all a matter of keeping up appearances. Like for me, I dont want people worrying about me. For a long time I didnt want people to look at me like I was insane becuase I had all these problems. Now I just want to get out of this thing...that I'm in. I dont even know what to call it. I dont like feeling the way I do. Its never been this bad.

i usually get my sad times when i'm alone. when it's very very bad sometimes i even get sad when i'm with my friends or in school but i try not to show it that much then. but when i'm alone i just let it all out and i listen to sad music and talk to people online who are more or less in the same mood ect.

sometimes i think that it's just not right to feel that way. like there are people who dont even have a home and there are children dying from starvation every single day. and i am sitting here in my room with my damn pc and i have stupid things like a tv, a laptop, a cell phone and 154125 things that nobody ever needs. and i'm complaining about my feelings. this just isnt right :/

thats more or less the things that i think about when i have my depressive times.

ocd brought on my depression. :(

Originally posted by Kaffeine Kay
I feel exactly like that. I feel like I'm drowning and I can't reach the top. I don't know why I bother to get out of bed anymore. I'm ****ing crazy, I swear it. There's something just not right with me in my head. I hear things and hallucinate, and that's not fun, because it makes you think you belong in freakin Bellevue or something.

I know what you mean about opening up to people.. the only reason I see shrinks is because I used to want to get better, but now I don't know if I even care anymore, because I'll be like this forever, so what's the point? There's only one real person I can open up to, I feel like she's the only person I have. The only one I trust.

I have that drowning feeling a lot too. I always feel like I'm insane or something because no one seems to understand. I take Zoloft but it hasn't been helping much lately.