5 Early Signs That Show You Are Suffering From Depression

Depression, also known as clinical depression and major depressive disorder (MDD), is one of the least understood disorders of our time.People have a tendency to disregard what they can’t physically see as an occasional mood-swing or a short-lived bout of despondency, nothing a tub of chocolate ice cream and a good night’s sleep can’t fix.

For such people, “disorder” and “disease” are terms reserved for things that are more serious, and “feeling depressed” just doesn’t cut it.

* Low Self-Esteem, Guilt & Hopelessness

Lack of self-confidence, feelings of guilt and a bleak vision of what the future holds are trademark symptoms of clinical depression.Some people may not merely hold themselves in low regard, but may feel disgusted with who they are. Some may also express a heightened sense of guilt and blame themselves excessively for past mistakes.Patients of depression are more unforgiving of themselves, and in only a few cases do they reportedly blame others or express negative feelings toward them. This proves that guilt and self-blame is central to clinical depression.

* Fatigue

Fatigue is a commonly occurring symptom in patients of depression, according to a 2004 study published in Psychiatry.Serotonin is the neurotransmitter emitted by our brain responsible for creating feelings of happiness. Similarly, epinephrine is the neurotransmitter responsible for creating energy.

* Insomnia

The homeostasis process of your body tells you when you have been awake long enough and require sleep. The circadian process of your body maintains the sleepiness and wakefulness during the day.Depression messes up these twin systems that help you sleep.

* Anger & Irritability

Along with a prolonged, obvious and overwhelming sense of despair, there is one other emotion that is characteristic of the initial stage of depression – anger. This is often accompanied with heightened irritability and a tendency to lose one’s cool over seemingly trivial things.

* Anxiety

Anxiety is not merely feeling nervous about something that has happened or is yet to occur. Anxiety disorders are capable of terribly interfering with a person’s peace of mind and making them obsess over little things to the point of paranoia. When you are suffering from depression, an anxiety attack can put you on the edge and push you deeper into darkness.