11 Warning Signs of Depression

Joanne P.B.­

10 days ago

my poor Mother suffered from clinical depression most of her life, she had some terrible things happen to her starting out in childhood and @ 30 yrs. old she lost my Dad to cancer, was left with 2 babies, lost her home, car, all monetery things..and of course her heart :-( that was the last straw for her, anyway she was very sickly physically and mentally and tried to commit suicide a year later (thank God my grandmother came by the house and called an ambulence)..I watched and helped her try and beat depression byt sadly she struggled all of her days, she passed a long, horrible death last March @ 77 and my heart is still broken for all her suffering, physical and mental...rest in peace now Ma, I understand and will miss and love u 4 ever...good luck and seek help for anyone out there with derpession..it is very real! xo xo

mutile

18 days ago

Thank you, but some you cant avoid, like one said don't cry be happy it depends with the situation but will try i think am depressed.

post

19 days ago

Just getting and reckonizing the symtoms

Barbara M.

20 days ago

Dealing with the elderly in my community I come across many who suffer from depression - with your help I now know what to look out for. Thank you!

deeylla

21 days ago

i thinks i have depression. but it come and goes. but usually, it lasted for a month and more. .

Ladyv1988

22 days ago

helpful

GEEZER81

24 days ago

BREADTH!

sablelee123

27 days ago

I made one comment earlier we have some family members we never see or only hear from them just to tell mom they love her but they do nothing to help whatsoever,but we set it up for my youngest sister to call every evening to say the lords prayer with mom and it has seemed to really help her mood and ours for that matter and since we can't leave the house cause once you become a caregiver the patient becomes so dependent on you -you have to be in seeing or hearing range at all times,so one of us goes to the store or whatever needs to be done but have to hurry back or she worries herself sick.It is the hardest job we have ever had and the bad thing is -it doesn't pay anything,my brother needs to go to the doctor but when he had to leave his job of twenty odd years to care for mom cause noone else wanted or was capable mentally for this challenge.mom is very demanding she treats us like her personal slaves and even calls us that,she wanted to die at home and we promised her she would.she broke her hip last year and wouldn't even try to walk again so now my brother does all the heavy lifting and it is really taking it's toll on him mentally and physically.as all she does is eat and watch t.v. and gain weight.We have put our worries in the Lords hands . My brother is only 53 and feels he'll never work again and he is very angry and depressed.I know when she passes away we are both going to feel horrible for some of the things we have said and think.I will miss her voice and her laugh but,not being her personal slave.

Helpinhand

about 1 month ago

Help me to really realize the symptoms of my depression. I know why I am but i dont know how to fix it.

i am feeling most of the 11. #11 most

kilmatead

2 months ago

answers alot of feelings ive been having lately ..........once you can recognise this emotional state ...it is easier to be poistive and occupy oneself

dottydot

4 months ago

2 4 & 7 match her to a tea when she gets in one of these moods she can be down right mean.

x-five o

4 months ago

I like your article. A lot of EMS people are suffering with PTSD and don't even know it. Did you know the #1 cause of death for police officer die is suicide.

giuditta

4 months ago

tpo basic. My dtr. is dying and is seriously considering cancelling chemo. I believe it should be her decision but she worries that others will think she is selfish and inconsiderate of others. I believe it is her life and her death and noone else should matter except for her decision. My dtr. is extremely kind and brave and one of th finest women I have ever know (not because she is my dtr.) and she never does things lightly. The thought of losing her is devestating but she must and will come first...no matter what I or anyone else says. I want to be of help...I need help in responding to her questions...I must admit that most people I have spoken with find her decision of ceasing chemo as wrongt, selfish, disheartening, or selfish. I find their responses as narrow and not well thought out or religiously and therefore unthinkingly easily responsive.

BDS

4 months ago

If you are seeking help for depression and have been prescribed a medication keep the lines of communication open with your Doctor and don't be afraid to be honest about the effects good, bad or indifferent about the effectiveness of the medication. There are so many different medications and there can be some trials & errors involved before the right one is found for you. Be patient, stay the course and if necessary change Doctors if you feel that the one you're going to is not responsive to your needs or is not someone you feel comfortable with or confident in. Everyone of us is unique and likewise the various depression meds are unique. Over time I tried 7 different medications before finding the one that was right for me. In closing my suggestion is to go to a Psychiatrist if you can afford the cost involved with an office visit.

BDS

4 months ago

I was diagnosed with depression 29 years ago and I did my best to keep the fact that I was taking medication for this from everyone. About 10 years ago I decided that I was going to stop hiding this fact and speak opening about the fact that I had depression and that with medication I was fine. By opening up to others about this was not something that changed the way people interacted or treated me so don't be afraid or feel like you can't talk about your depression to others because it's ok to honest with others & yourself as most people you interact with will understand & will be there for you & want you to be happy and be the best you can be.

klwoodco

4 months ago

I need some serious help with my depression. I have had it for fifteen years.. Thank You Kristal

Emily M.

4 months ago

Hello lostintime, Thank you very much for your comment. Unfortunately, we don't have any information or expertise in that area. I hope you are able to find the information you are looking for. Take care! -- Emily | Community Manager

stormlily7

4 months ago

Very useful article. I have loved ones who suffer from this.

lostintime

4 months ago

5 years ago i met a beautiful woman , we hit it off and dated for a short time, She confided in me and before our relationship went to the next level she told me that she was HIV positive, I told her that i wasn't scared and we continued our relationship, we have been together ever since , i have not been tested for HIV and don't know if i want to be. I love her so much and want to do the right thing , How should i handle this ?

Tibrea

4 months ago

Was I really sad? Today I have a symptom and I don't like allergies on the bus and Sally hates the mild symptom she kills the germs and a really good family helper. Brylei whose playing football today is a nonsense!

Tibrea

4 months ago

The article was very helpful to me because I would know that my feelings depressed sadly. I couldn't wait to see a doctor for a medicine treatment then I would feel better. Sally ages 5-6 was having a rash and I want nobody to know why.

Caring Commu­nity

4 months ago

Hello everyone, I just wanted to remind you that depression (and/or thoughts of suicide) is a serious health problem that requires attention and care from a doctor or licensed medical professional offline. This is not a problem that can be resolved in an online forum or in the comments section of articles on our website. Please immediately seek help by calling 911 or a toll-free crisis hotline, such as 1-800-784-2433 or 1-800-273-8255.

AngieH.

4 months ago

to Jehnavi--I suffer with severe, recurrent depression and your description of this illness is SPOT ON!! I have no affection toward myself~~ I actually hate myself!~I feel completely empty inside and also feel as if I'm hurting the ones who need me most! I have no interest in life because nothing in life gives me happiness anymore!!! I love my husband more than I've ever loved anyone- yet, I can't give him what he wants, needs, and deserves! He fels I don't desire him, when, in fact, I can't see why he desires ME!! I feel so fat and ugly & I have absolutely no sex drive!! I'm ashamed for him to touch me and my hideous body!! I sure miss our fun- I'm just too ashamed for him to feel my gross body!!!!

AngieH.

4 months ago

dear anonymous, you have a believer and fellow sufferer in me! I relate to EVERYTHING you say and feel. We must not give up though~ as you said, we have family that would be devastated if we did what we really want to do!! I, unlike you, do have kids~ 2 boys~ ages 13 & 18~ and they are THE ONLY REASON I'm still here! We must fight and never give up, no matter how many crappy "doctors" we have to deal with!! I've had more than my fair share of these idiots who call themselves "care-givers"!!

annejessy

4 months ago

hi i am feeling all of the 11 things but pushing them away every time i live in greece dont have money to get help im scottish i dont now what to do or where to go.is there some kind of net out there for help please .

godvoice

4 months ago

I do believe in depression - and i have almost face it now i dont wanna loose anyone from any part of the world -i wanna help hand and it is good that lord jesus is giving me chance to opportunity to write down some words here the one who died from their families -it is very painful -i can feel how hard it is but we have to live life ---:) so god bless you -jasmine

hwood157

4 months ago

After reading some of these posts I have to say that there are some...mixed among them. Yeah, I mean that in the way it sounds. Depression as a "sickness" is real. Some of these people want to spend their time looking for some cure out of boredom w/ their lives. I can tell that they have lives and are living them. The rest, you know who you are, I share my alliance. At least we have that. It's complicated to the point of obvious. We want to die and be reborn. We want to do it again, but this time with a map. Maybe the fact that we write this, in some way, actually makes us the people we want to be. It is more difficult in this era due to what's shoved in our faces media wise, and the endless parade of d-bags that leap out of the marketplace bushes to tell us we don't belong. Be rich and pretty and cry a little and the world buys your book. Be regular, but incredible inside where nobody can see and your passed over as the flotsam & jetsam of society. We don't need to kill ourselves, the people on the covers of certain magazines do. They are using up good peoples space in this world. To those of us that are "paralyzed" emotionally my advice is to lose your TV. I did & it's made a 50% difference. I still have away to go but, that train has slowed down and the wheels are turning back to a NEW direction. Trust yourself and lose your TV. Poisons the special souls we, in particular, carry. Do it. You caan always go back to it if you want, you'll just be with the first group I mentioned. Good Luck Allies!

hwood157

4 months ago

The simple listing of symptons. For the "drama" people, it's just an ala carte menu, but, for those of us who suffer, it helps to physically see it and to quantify it. We have so little a chance to start with, literally seeing it gives something tangible to an invisible enemy. Like finding a weakness in our weakness.

I hit the mark on all of them and probably a few that aren't mentioned. People pleasing and then regretting it is a sympton of mine. It's a constant tug of war between appreciating yourself and being disgusted with yourself due to your "over flexability". The inability to say NO. Always wanting, or feeling like you have to, help others. The only thing that stops me from doing myself in is the fact that I have a family I wouldn't want to hurt. I am single, over 40 with no kids, but I come from a family of 5 and both parents are alive. Substance abuse is a common denominator, but to me it's a sympton of the illness and not the cause. No one, (well, few), have ever seen me breakdown. I feel like, & have been made to feel like a second class citizen. If I hurt, someone hurts worse. So I don't count. My whole life has been "have to's". No "want to's". I always come last. It would be ok if I were an idiot. But I'm not. I'm actually more intelligent and creative than 90% of my peers. I am only good for them as someone who will do what they are to lazy to do or try.

KUL

4 months ago

Severe depression is my reality, I have known nothing else for years now. Staying in bed with the shades shut for days is the happiest I can be. Now that I am unemployed, death will be the everlasting rest I have wished for, for so very long. I have the drugs, they just suppress the feelings rather than finding the cure (cheaper for the health insurance companies that want to save us money on the costs of our health, b*ll sh*t is what they offer us and big profits to their CEOs, Board Members and investors). My dreams AND worst nightmares are better than my earthly life. Psychiatrists have nothing to offer me, I just get bored talking to them about the same old things that they cannot resolve.

I am a breast cancer survivor with surgery 2 years ago. I knew that I have been depressed for the majority of my fight, but did not have the courage to ask for help. Seeing this article and all of the posts has given me the strength to ask. Initially I thought my muddled thoughts were a result of chemo. When explaining it to people, I would say that my mind is lacking focus, attention and concentration. And they would not understand. But I am not alone after all. I hope this post inspires someone to do the same.

Depression is very sad and is nothing to play around with, I know because I'm going through it now and seems its getting worse. It's mainly due to my past and present situation being unemployed, almost about to loose my unemployment benefits and the list goes on. I am under A LOT of stress and stress can lead to depression. Is there help out there? Of course - if you're rich! I would be seeing a counselor now if I had the money instead of making this comment here! Money can get help get many people out of depression and even though the old saying goes .... money doesn't bring happiness - um I beg to differ! Anyway... enough said. I think the article above was very informative and helpful and hope others with depression or just feeling down will read it. God Bless us ALL!!!

MojoRisin

4 months ago

Is this article basically correct? Yes. But is it also full of typical B.S.?? Absolutely. I have suffered from depression most of my life. I have learned how to cope, have a professional career, and mostly get on with life. Whenever I have gotten involved with Doctors, medications etc--I have always gotten MUCH MUCH WORSE. These doctors, the medications, and answers they peddle-- are so full of crap I cannot begin to tell you. My advice is to exercise in intense amounts, be disciplined and avoid doctors and medications at all cost. Some mean well to be sure-- but they have drugs that don’t know how they work and you may as well play Russian roulette on your own--no need to pay for that. These doctors make incredible money--outrageous actually--to give drugs that they don’t know how they work-- to people they don’t know exactly what is wrong. Now that’s insane. Buyers beware.

Jennifer0904­

4 months ago

I am trying to be a breast cancer survivor ! I discovered a lump around Christmas 2010 and made Dr. appt. for Jan. 25, 2011, was given my bad news. Been in whirlwind since then. I have dealt with depression for years now ( I'm 49 ) so any info that I see I look to see if there is something new for me to learn. I'm up to taking 60mgs. of Cymbalta a day but I swear I'm still feeling so many symptoms !!! This article has added to me trying to fix myself ( diet, symptoms ) Thank You Sincerely Jennifer

drcav74

4 months ago

I am sorry but I have seen all the doctors and therapists, have taken more pills than I care to think about and none of it has worked. I just don't care anymore. I have tried to fight this for close to fifty years and I am just tired. If I don't wake up tomorrow that will be just fine.

buckduke

4 months ago

Hello to you all. I am a 56 year old male, and actually been depressed all my life. I have learned to deal with it, and except the fact that this is how I am, and this is how it will be for the rest of my life. I can socialize, but eventually, I begin to talk about my depression, and I recluse, or push people away with anger, or no more contact. I feel alittle skitzo because of my behavior, wishing I could bring someone into my life. I have few spirts of positive eccentric behavior. Doing nice things for total strangers mostly. Love the shocked look on their faces. However, recently, I am slowly moving into paranoid behavior. I dont sleep for a few days at a time, then one day its all day long. I am now afraid of the dark, and considering shifting sleeping habits to daytime so I can stay awake all night. I try to sleep with the lights on. I am scared. And because of this recent behavior, it really does frighten me.

BigBend2012

4 months ago

hi my name is Scott and am 26 years old, and I know I was diagnosed with depression as a kid and I went through a small drinking phase and then I stopped bcause i had better things going on in my life. But for a year, me and my my girlfriend at the time had to go behind her parents to date and every night id mentally fall asleep on the phone, but physically still awake. it got worse and worse then got a little better. now again I have been feeling down and thinking more of death on a regular basis. i do have a dark personality and i didn't think depression had anything to do with it. i find it very comforting about death and feel the safest when i drive past cemeteries and going through videos of cadavers. as of today me and my gf are now engaged and will be getting married in the next year. i know i should see someone about my behavior. I am taking Wellbutrin XL (Bupioron) - i dont know the correct spelling. but i am not sure if its still really working. i can tell it works most of the time.

It is funny to see all these comments about depression and not one person really understands what depression really feels like. I see comments about loss of loved ones and I don't deny that it can cause someone to be or feel depressed. Try suffering that on an ongoing basis for what seems like eternity instead of a single time. I'm suffering from severe depression and I didn't even bother comparing symptoms to know I have it. Why bother? I'm living my life day to day (no drugs)...and it comes and goes like the ocean tide(some days it's worst than others). They talk about pain in this article and they are certainly right about that as well as a lot of the other things mentioned.

I have lived with a clinically depressed person for years. She has moved out several times, come back and moved out again. It is very very difficult living with someone who takes her medication, sees a psychiatrist, yet drinks every day. I try to be sympathetic without enabling her, but it is very difficult. Fortunately she has been able to keep her job although she hates it along with the 7 other jobs she has had in the last few years. Doubt if I can keep the marriage together much longer as she has become verbally abusive also. Tends to blame our marriage difficulties completely on me. Then in the next sentence she will say she is sorry, but I can tell she really is not. Since I have an illness that will do me in some day it is seems almost hopeles to say the least.

har-har-har

4 months ago

My wife has Alzheimer's and I'm her home caregiver. I attempt to take the best possible care of her as possible. As for me, another slab of ribs,fries and milk shake please! Life can just kiss my xxx!

To : No family--last good friend died & you are 87yrs old. Do you have a Senior Center around you? If so did you ever think about going there? It can be a tremendous place for camaraderie. Also, I don't know if you believe in God...but we are Catholic and our church excepts everyone. They always have events for young and old in the bigger churches with after mass get togethers. Please do not think you are all alone in this world. God loves you! And, there are others out there waiting to be your friend! Please reach out....

Saguaro987

4 months ago

There is research that indicates that one of the common factors with people who shoplift is depression, also getting into barfights (men), taking unnessessary risk, including sexual behavior and speeding.

Sorry for the double post. First one didn't show till after I posted the second.

Eh, I've had 10 of 11 for 50+ years. You learn to live with it.

Eh, I've had 10 of 11 all my life. You learn to live with it.

kidnapped

4 months ago

My four year old son was kidnapped by my ex-wife. I don't know when I will be able to see him again. I have all 11 symptoms listed on the first page and I just wish I hadn't been born, although I would never do anything to harm myself or others. I'm grief-stricken. A psychiatrist I consulted said that antidepressants don't work well for grief reactions. If I smoke a lot of cigarettes it gives me relief but I don't want to die a slow and painful death either.

godvoice

5 months ago

dont cry -always be happy n be good n do good:)

kenpodon

5 months ago

Most of them apply to me. I'm 66 and am tired of these feelings but won't take any western meds.

RVing

5 months ago

Thank you.

DinDjinn

5 months ago

It's refreshing to have the eleven-item list all on the page, instead of having to keep clicking *Read more, or go to next page. Brevity to a point, something the mind can take in quickly, has been all but forgotten in the *"Data Age". :-) -Jim-

Very helpful, will have to see a doctor for myself.

footingrave1­

5 months ago

...or death of a loved one..or two or more loved ones...This is the most depressed I've been ever. So hard to reconfigure your life without the pillars that once held you up. It's something we all go through, eventually, but to my knowledge, there is no solution to sadness at the death of a parent, sibling, dear friend...it just is what it is....good luck, all, in dealing with the throes...my prayers are with you all.

har-har-har

5 months ago

I pray every night that I won't wake up the next day. Being an Alzheimer's care giver is like living in hell. The only thing I look foward to is my death. Alzheimers is a living HELL!

prieta18

6 months ago

Thank you, this site is very helpful!

Emily M.

6 months ago

Hi Anonymous, Thank you so much for your comment. I'm so sorry to hear about your situation. That must be very difficult for you. If you'd like, you can post your question in our Ask & Answer section, here: ( http://www.caring.com/ask ). Take care -- Emily | Community Manager

no family--last good friend died-- nothing to look for-- goingon 87 years of age--- so-- what do you do about this setup ?????

e1jack

6 months ago

Maybe this will help me better understand me.

Pastor Bryan­

8 months ago

Good site, I'll be back.

lawanda

8 months ago

thank you i thought i was going crazy

Suseoffcentr­e

9 months ago

Describing the symptoms in a continuum fashion seems to respect the differences conceptually rather than just this or that. Also including the physical symptoms is useful for so many of us for whom it is not "all in your head". Thank you.

Emily M.

9 months ago

Hi scloyd, I'm so sorry to hear about the trouble you've been having with your mother, depression can be very difficult for the individual affected as well as their loved ones. Have you talked to her doctor about other possible treatments for her depression besides medication? Has she ever spoken to someone about her depression, like a support, grief group, or therapist? If you'd like to get advice about depression from other member of our community, check out our forums section, here: ( http://www.caring.com/forums ). You can also post a question in our Ask & Answer section, here: ( http://www.caring.com/ask ). I hope this has helped. Good luck with your mother, and don't forget to take care of yourself! -- Emily | Community Manager

scloyd

10 months ago

My mother is just now experience 'depression'. She keeps saying that there is nothing to live for. My dad has been gone 1-1/2 years. She'll tell me this, but when my brothers & nephews talk to her, she never tells them this. Sometime I feel as if I'm the one making mom like this. My daughter, Mom's granddaughter, and I live with her. I had to move in with you last year because she was always getting sick and couldn't sleep in our childhood house by herself. The doctor just started her on Zoloft 50mg this past Thursday. Is there anything else that I should or could do to help her out of this? We live in Indiana and the weather is not helping her feelings at all. Thank you.

pld

10 months ago

Just because 2 different issues have similar symptoms does not mean that they don't apply to both. Dementia has many varieties. My lovely mother lost her ability to speak clearly, so I'll never really know how much she understood or suffered with her multiple stroke dementia. I do know that my father visited her every day he was healthy, and that both lived long beyond their expected lifespans (to 88 and 90).

pld

10 months ago

Good to check out periodically, as I deal with depression and grief on a daily basis.

ifeomamark

about 1 year ago

the article is fantastic. very helpful

vkish

about 1 year ago

yes very

I totally disagree that ALL are like that. I worked all my life, I'm home almost all of the time now and I LOVE IT!!! I do what I want to do when I want to do it. Forcing me to get involved, run the streets, etc. is not for me and I'm sure there are others who feel the same way. I enjoy shopping on the internet rather than fighting crowds in stores. Being retired is wonderful ... not boring ... unless you want it to be.

williamcun

over 1 year ago

It didn't seem to apply to dementia people. Many of the symptoms listed are just normal dementia related symptoms.

Jehnavi

over 1 year ago

Everybody felt or will feel depression during his/her life. Depression is a certain state of our soul. If you observe yourself, if you introspect your soul, you will notice two basic motions. One is the upward movement, often described as elation, high mind, or elevation; while the other is a downward movement, described as depression, down, low spirits, sadness, sorrow, etc.The symptoms of mild depression are Feeling sad and low, and tired, Restlessness or irritability,Sleep problems - insomnia or sleeping to excess. The symptoms of the serve depression are Deep feeling of sadness, despair, misery, gloom and blackness,Loss of affection towards oneself and others, empty mood, A sense of failure, self-criticism, feeling of unworthiness, even self-loathing ,Loss of interest in life, in former favorite activities, inability to take pleasure in life, Decreased energy, fatigue, sluggish, Loss of sex drive. http://www.womenhealthcenter.net/