By: Arron      Edited by: Noah

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 7 percent of adults in the United States will experience major depressive disorder every year. Unfortunately, only a third of those will seek out and receive treatment. It can be confusing to know if what one is experiencing is just temporary sadness, anxiety, or clinical depression. Below is a list of signs to help determine if you should seek professional help.

An inability to concentrate  

From time to time, we all experience brain fog, or the inability to focus. While this doesn’t necessarily equate to depression, it can be a sign that something more serious is happening. A common symptom of depression is a lack of centration and difficulty making decisions. This can affect work performance and other responsibilities. If you are depressed, you might notice that you make more mistakes at work or school. If you are experiencing this symptom for 2 weeks or more, you should seek help from a professional.

 

Unexplained aches and pains

When we think about mental illnesses such as depression, we usually think about the emotional pain that comes with it. However, research shows that depression can manifest as physical pain too. Symptoms often include joint, limb, and back pain, as well as gastrointestinal problems. A 2017 research study of 1,013 Canadian university students found a direct association between depression and backaches. In fact, a high percentage of patients with depression who seek treatment report only the physical symptoms, making depression difficult to diagnose.

 

Changes in appetite  

While some people who experience depression might binge on unhealthy foods, others might lose interest in food altogether. Either way, if you experience a significant change in appetite and weight, this might be a symptom of major depression.

 

Irritability, agitation, and moodiness

One last sign that you might be experiencing depression is heightened irritability, agitation, and moodiness. When we are depressed, we are much more likely to feel irritable, snapping at other people over small things. Depression can amplify our negative emotions which makes it harder to control them. Mental health professionals often refer to anger turned inward, and anger turned outward with individuals dealing with depression.  Anger turned inward is often associated with an overly critical and negative inner voice. Listening to this voice can make it hard to move past feelings of shame and self-worth. Anger turned outward can present problems making it difficult to control anger around friends, family, and co-workers. This can lead to strained relationships which can push people out of our lives which in turn makes us more depressed.

 

Conclusion

While there are many more possible symptoms related to depression, the list provided above are some of the most common. Depression is a complex condition and we don’t fully understand all of the causes, however, mental health professionals have had success with treatment that includes medications, therapies, and lifestyle modifications. . If you are experiencing any of these symptoms it may be a good idea to talk to a professional today.