What are typical symptoms of depression? And how obvious may they be to oneself or to others?

1 Answer
Nov 27, 2017

They are usually less obvious to the individual than to the people around them. NOTE that not all of them are necessarily present, and they must continue for an extended period of time.

Explanation:

These signs are usually pretty clear to those around the person suffering — the person doesn’t seem at all like their normal self. The changes in the person’s mood are (usually) evident to friends and family.

1 Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood
2 Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
3 Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
4 Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed
5 Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed”
6 Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
7 Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
8 Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
9 Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
10 Restlessness, irritability
11 Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

In order for depression to be diagnosed, the person must experience these symptoms every day, for at least 2 weeks.

Remember, we all can have both "up" and "down" days without being "clinically" depressed!

https://psychcentral.com/lib/types-and-symptoms-of-depression/