Introduction
The collective term depression encompasses a range of symptoms with varying degrees of severity. The form and course of the disease are comparable in most people but are of different degrees of severity. It is also important to distinguish between a state of mood, which is a normal reaction to certain events and can be managed by the person himself or herself, and a fully developed depression. A temporarily depressed mood occurs in most people, but must be distinguished from a pathological degree.
Signs of depression
The following are some of the typical signs of depression:
- Long-term persistence of a depressed mood
- Several areas of life, which are influenced by the negative basic mood
- Comfort and sympathy of others does not lead to an improvement and sometimes even to a deterioration
- Marked longing for closeness and security
- General listlessness and listlessness and easy fatigue
- Presence of inner restlessness accompanied by nervousness and aimless drive
- Heightened urge to self-pity
- Existence of a constantly negative viewpoint with often exaggerated and overestimated assessment of one’s own environment
- An increased feeling of hopelessness and a pronounced lack of interest, which can degenerate into complete indifference
- Often it comes to a lack of personal hygiene due to lack of motivation and complete listlessness
- Often the affected person is hypersensitive, irritable and increasingly grumpy or bad-tempered for no reason, up to an aggressive or hostile attitude
- Occurrence of feelings of inferiority and strong self-underestimation
- Memory and concentration difficulties
- Difficulties in taking decisions
- Increased occurrence of feelings of guilt and shame for no apparent reason up to self-accusations
- Occurrence of relationship disorders due to lack of understanding of the other individual
- Occurrence of feelings of inner emptiness, combined with complete numbness
- Development of anxiety states or panic attacks regarding the own future
- Suffering from general distrust and persecution mania
- Possible development of OCD
Diagnosis criteria of depression
Depending on the severity of a depression, there must be a different number and severity of main and secondary symptoms. The symptoms must persist for at least two weeks for a diagnosis of depression to be made. Main symptoms Depressed, depressed mood Loss of interest and joyfulness Loss of drive Side symptoms Appetite reduction Sleep disorders Impaired self-esteem Guilt or feelings of worthlessness Brooding tendency Suicidal thoughts Concentration disorders Somatic syndrome: early awakening Deep in the morning Physical excess of energy
- Depressed mood
- Loss of interests and ability to be happy
- Drive reduction
- Appetite reduction
- Insomnia
- Loss of self-esteem
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Brooding tendency
- Suicidal thoughts
- Concentration disorders
- Somatic syndrome: Early awakening Morning low Physical over
- Early Awakening
- Morning low
- Physical Over
- Early Awakening
- Morning low
- Physical Over
