Recognize the signs or symptoms of depression.

Types of Depression: Understanding the Spectrum of Mood Disorders

Depression is known to be a very complex condition. Although it is understood that there are genetic factors, external environmental factors can also cause or contribute to depression. Bouts of depression that occur after traumatic events or losses may be easier to recognize than more long-term forms of depression.

If you feel like you may be experiencing any symptoms associated with depression or just haven’t felt like your normal self in a while, it is always a great idea to consult a professional. What may seem normal to you, can present itself as a clear indicator of depression to a trained professional.

Symptoms of Depression to Watch out For

Irritability

If you’ve noticed changes in mood that are abnormal for you, this could be an early indicator that something isn’t right. If more and more of your peers and family are noticing that you are becoming more and more irritated over the smallest things, this could be a sign of something more. However, being irritable can be normal – sometimes when there is a lot of stress in our lives, we tend to take it out on others. However, it’s up to you and a mental health professional to determine the origin of your mood changes.

Sad or anxious feelings

It’s normal to be sad, especially after serious events such as tragedies or emotional loss. However, if these emotions are sustained over a long period of time, or if you’re noticing these feelings despite nothing out of the ordinary occurring, this could be another sign of depression. Make a note of when these feelings have begun and inform your doctor about these changes.

Just because you are sad, doesn’t mean you are depressed. Being sad doesn’t mean you are depressed.

If you are depressed, you have been sad or had feelings of hopelessness for an ongoing period of time and are at risk of dwelling in this state of mind.

Pessimism

Sometimes pessimism is just a character trait, but if you’re noticing that your thoughts tend to lean more towards negativity and helplessness, there might be more to it than you might think. Depression can sometimes manifest itself in negative beliefs and thoughts about yourself and the outside world that could lead to very serious consequences if left unchecked. The world has a way of projecting your feelings back to you. When you approach everything with a negative mindset, everything you see is negative and it falsely validates your view of the world. This vicious cycle is dangerous because it can become a learned behavior that is very difficult to untrain.

Difficulties Concentrating and Cognitive Impairment

If you find that your judgment is clouded and you’re having trouble making decisions, this is a sign that you need to visit your doctor. Depression can severely affect your motivation and drive to complete work, which may add to your stress if you sabotage your career.

Again, as with the other symptoms of depression, everyone has bad days or even weeks. These should only be considered indications of depression if they are persistent or if you notice you are exhibiting more than one symptom for an extended period of time. You are allowed to have off days, it all depends on whether or not you pull yourself out of it.