Depression is a very common mood disorder in clinical practice, characterized by persistent and significant mood lowering during the onset of the illness. If depression is severe and not treated promptly, many adverse manifestations may occur, even lowering the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, early treatment is necessary when signs of depression are detected.
Is unhappiness depression?
Unhappiness is a common emotional change. When facing unpleasant or difficult situations, many people may show signs of unhappiness. This kind of unhappiness lasts for a relatively short time and differs greatly from the mood lowering caused by depression. They should not be confused with each other. Brief episodes of unhappiness are not depression.
What are the symptoms of depression?
1. Low self-esteem
A common manifestation in patients with depression is low self-esteem, easily leading to self-negating thoughts, constantly feeling like they have no purpose, and being unwilling to express themselves in front of strangers, displaying significant lack of confidence. If this sense of low self-esteem persists, it should be taken seriously, and the root cause should be addressed promptly. If this low self-esteem is a negative manifestation triggered during the progression of depression, seeking help from professionals and taking corrective measures in a timely manner is crucial.
2. Loss of appetite
During the progression of depression, due to the prolonged mood lowering, patients’ emotional changes are pronounced. They may experience a decrease in appetite and loss of interest in food when feeling emotionally low. If a decrease in appetite is constantly influenced by negative emotions, it should be a cause for concern as it may be a negative manifestation triggered by depression during its progression.
3. Pessimism and hopelessness
Depressed patients may not only experience a decrease in appetite and low self-esteem but may also exhibit pessimism and feelings of hopelessness. They may feel gloomy, joyless, and even lose faith in life, and severe cases of depression may lead to thoughts or actions of suicide. These symptoms of pessimism and hopelessness are closely related to depression. It is essential to take note of these abnormal phenomena and prevent the onset of depression.
4. Sluggish thinking
Depressed patients often experience sluggish thinking. Sluggish thinking can be brought on by long-term depression, leading to a decrease in brain activity, restrictions in cognitive abilities, and the brain seeming like a rusty machine that cannot function properly. This may also be accompanied by a loss of will, dizziness, and mental fatigue. The occurrence of these symptoms is associated with the effects of depression.
5. Chronic insomnia
A common manifestation in depressed patients is severe insomnia, often requiring long-term reliance on sleeping pills to fall asleep. Due to the influence of depression, patients find it difficult to fall asleep, easily wake up during the night, and have a short duration of deep sleep, leading to a decline in mental state and overall weakness over time. If these conditions are present, it signals a possibility of depression.
