Depression is not simply “feeling down,” but a serious mental illness characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest, affecting the patient’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and in severe cases, may even lead to suicide. Therefore, timely identification and acknowledgment of the manifestations and symptoms of depression are crucial for early intervention and treatment.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression: Mental Signals You Need to Know
1. Persistent Sadness and Loss of Interest
Prolonged sadness: Patients often feel inexplicable sadness, emptiness, or despair for extended periods, disproportionate to daily events.
Lack of interest: Activities or things once enjoyed become uninteresting, and even participating reluctantly does not bring happiness.
Feelings of guilt and self-blame: Unreasonably feeling useless or guilty, repeatedly blaming oneself for past mistakes or failures, finding it hard to let go.
2. Slow Thinking and Cognitive Distortions
Lack of concentration: Difficulty focusing on daily tasks or work, memory decline.
Negative thinking: Pessimistic about the future, believing things will not improve, and even having thoughts of death or suicide.
Difficulty making decisions: Hesitation in making even simple decisions, feeling unable to decide.
3. Physical Fatigue and Sleep Disturbances
Lack of energy: Feeling exhausted even after sufficient rest, lacking vitality.
Sleep disturbances: Difficulty falling asleep, early awakening, or oversleeping, but not feeling refreshed upon waking up.
Changes in appetite: Significant weight loss or gain due to decreased or increased appetite.
4. Social Withdrawal and Loss of Interest
Avoiding social interactions: Decreasing or avoiding interactions with family and friends, losing interest in social activities.
Emotional numbness: Decreased emotional responses to family and friends, even appearing indifferent to loved ones.
Intense feelings of loneliness: Feeling extreme loneliness and helplessness despite being around people.
5. Physical Symptoms, Not to be Ignored
Pain and discomfort: Frequently experiencing unexplained pains such as headaches, back pain, stomach pain, as well as feelings of tightness in the chest, palpitations, and other discomfort.
Sexual dysfunction: Decrease or complete loss of sexual desire or interest.
Other manifestations: Autonomous nervous system disorders such as constipation, frequent urination, excessive sweating, etc.
Conclusion: Lighting the Beacon of the Soul
Depression is not terrifying, but our neglect and misunderstanding of it are. When you or someone around you show the above signs, please give them proper attention and seek professional psychological help promptly. Remember, every soul deserves to be treated gently, and every pain has the potential to be healed. Let us join hands to light a beacon for the soul, dispel the darkness of depression together, and embrace each hopeful tomorrow.
