Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities. People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with your daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It also can influence relationships and some chronic health conditions such; arthritis, asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity It’s important to realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of life. Sad and upsetting events happen to everyone. But, if you’re feeling miserable or hopeless on a regular basis, you could be dealing with depression. Depression an be more than a constant state of sadness or feeling “blue.” Symptoms may also be on going or come and go. Depression an affect men, women, and children differently.
Symptoms of depression in men:
Mood: anger, aggressiveness, irritability, anxiousness, restlessness
Emotional: feeling empty, sad, hopeless
Behavioural: loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favourite activities, feeling tired easily, thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively, using drugs, engaging in high-risk activities
Sexual: reduced sexual desire, lack of sexual performance
Cognitive: inability to concentrate, difficulty completing tasks, delayed responses during conversations
Sleep: insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, not sleeping through the night
Physical: fatigue, pains, headache, digestive problems
Symptoms of depression in women:
Behavioural: loss of interest in activities, withdrawing from social engagements, thoughts of suicide
Cognitive thinking or talking more slowly
Mood: irritability
Emotional: feeling sad or empty, anxious or hopeless
Sleep: difficulty sleeping through the night, waking early, sleeping too much
Physical: decreased energy, greater fatigue, changes in appetite, weight changes, aches, pain, headaches, increased cramps