Introduction
Depression is a disease with a thousand faces. Therefore, it is not necessarily easy to recognise a depression, especially if you are the person affected. It is commonly known that depression has something to do with unhappiness, bad mood and in the worst case with suicide.
However, the disease of depression is much more comprehensive and profound and can manifest itself in many different ways. Many affected people have been suffering from a reduced quality of life for a long time and notice that they are not as capable as they used to be. After some time, physical symptoms are often added, such as pain, sleep disorders, chronic exhaustion or even loss of appetite. In simple terms, some main and additional symptoms of depression can be recorded.
Main symptoms
- Gloomy mood
- Loss of interest and joylessness
- Avolition
Additional symptoms
Physical symptoms that can be associated with depression:
- Collapse of concentration and performance
- Reduced self-esteem and confidence
- Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
- Pessimistic view of the future
- Self-harming behaviour up to suicide
- Insomnia
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia
- Tiredness and rapid exhaustion
- Libido loss
- Physical pain (usually headache, back pain, joint pain or muscle pain)
- Heart and circulation problems
- Digestive disorders
- Shortness of breath
Changed experience
Many patients report that feelings of hopelessness and helplessness dominate. They feel empty inside, feel guilt and fear, sadness and despair, but often they also feel unable to feel “real feelings” at all, feel “petrified” inside. In general, negative patterns of thought predominate.
Depressives often have a pessimistic attitude towards themselves and their own future and tend to brood and worry a lot. This results in a highly self-critical attitude and severe problems with concentration and performance. Sometimes patients also suffer from so-called delusions, such as the firm conviction that they are bringing shame on the family, ruining them financially or being terminally ill and dying themselves. These delusions are so real for those affected that it is difficult or even impossible for relatives to convince them otherwise. This requires professional help.
Changed behaviour
Often a social withdrawal of people suffering from depression can be observed. Hobbies, which used to be pursued with pleasure and extensively, are now more and more neglected or completely abandoned. Housework is postponed and those affected spend much time in bed. Some people’s voices are also becoming quieter and monotonous, and facial expressions and gestures appear severely restricted. However, some patients also feel a strong inner tension and run restlessly and as if driven up and down in the room (so-called agitated depression).
Physical changes
The most striking are probably the much observed sleep problems. Depressives can only fall asleep with difficulty, wake up again and again at night and find it very difficult to get back to sleep and are already awake very early in the morning, but feel tired, broken and as if they are exhausted. This results in tiredness and rapid exhaustion throughout the day.
The performance slump intensifies the symptoms of guilt. When patients are told why they cannot sleep, they often answer that they would brood a lot, the same worries and fears go through their minds again and again, a vicious spiral that they cannot escape with rational considerations. In addition, they often experience a loss of libido, multiple physical pains and loss of appetite (combined with unwanted weight loss). To learn about the types of depression, please click here.
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