Signs and Symptoms of Depression
Listed below are some of the things that indicate a person may be depressed. Note that there has to be at least 1 of the top 2 symptoms marked ** and 5 of the others for most of the time – all day every day – for at least 2 weeks, for a person to be considered “clinically depressed” by a doctor.
**Loss of interest in normal daily activities. This is called anhedonia.
**Depressed mood.
Sleep disturbances. Sleeping too much or having problems sleeping can be a sign you're depressed. Waking in the middle of the night or early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep are typical.
Impaired thinking or concentration. You may have trouble concentrating or making decisions and have problems with memory.
Significant weight loss or gain. An increased or reduced appetite and unexplained weight gain or loss may indicate depression.
Agitation or slowing of body movements. You may seem restless, agitated, irritable and easily annoyed. Or you may seem to do everything in slow motion and answer questions slowly in a monotonous tone of voice.
Fatigue. You feel weariness and lack of energy nearly every day. You may feel as tired in the morning as you did when you went to bed the night before.
Low self-esteem. You feel worthless and have excessive guilt.
Less interest in sex. If you were sexually active before developing depression, you may notice a dramatic decrease in your level of interest in having sexual relations.
Thoughts of death. You have a persistent negative view of yourself, your situation and the future. You may have thoughts of death, dying or suicide.
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Signs and Symptoms of Stress
Stress is a physical, mental, or emotional response to events that causes bodily or mental tension.
Simply put, stress is any outside force or event that has an effect on our body or mind.
Types & Levels of Stress
- The most common form, acute stress results from demands and pressures of the recent past and anticipated demands and pressures of the near future.
- The best way to envision the effects of acute stress is to imagine oneself in a primitive situation, such as being chased by a bear. In small doses, acute stress is thrilling and exciting, but too much is exhausting.
- If you endure acute stress frequently, you probably are experiencing episodic stress. Your life feels like a disorderly exercise in chaos and crisis. You are always rushing, always late. If something can go wrong, it does. Trying to do too much, you can't organize the tangle of self-inflicted demands clamoring for your attention. You are seemingly always facing a new stressful situation.
- The grinding stress that wears people down day after day and year after year is chronic stress. It destroys bodies, minds, and lives. It's the relentless stress of poverty, dysfunctional families, or despised jobs.
Causes of Stress
It’s not what happens to you that makes you stressed – it’s how you deal with it!
- Stress arises when a person perceives a situation as threatening. For example, the morning commute may make you anxious and tense because you worry that traffic will make you late. Others, however, may find the trip relaxing because they allow more than enough time and enjoy playing music or listening to books while they drive.
Things that can cause stress
- the state of the world, the country, or any community to which you belong
- unpredictable events
- the environment in which you live or work
- work itself
- family
Physical symptoms
Physical symptoms can be caused by other illnesses, so it is important to have a medical doctor treat conditions such as ulcers, compressed disks, or other physical disorders. The physical problems outlined below may result from or be exacerbated by stress:
- sleep disturbances
- back, shoulder or neck pain
- tension or migraine headaches
- upset or acid stomach, cramps, heartburn, gas
- irritable bowel syndrome
- constipation, diarrhea
- chest pain
- sweaty palms or hands
- cold hands or feet
Emotional symptoms
Like physical signs, emotional symptoms such as anxiety or depression can mask conditions other than stress. It is important to find out whether they are stress-related or not. In either case, the following emotional symptoms are uncomfortable and can affect performance at work or play, physical health, or relationships with others:
- nervousness, anxiety
- “butterflies”
- irritability, frustration
- memory problems
Relational symptoms
The antisocial behavior displayed in stressful situations can cause the rapid deterioration of relationships with family, friends, co-workers, or even strangers. A person under stress may manifest signs such as:
- increased arguments
- isolation from social activities
- conflict with co-workers or employers
- road rage
- domestic or workplace violence
- overreactions
A Simple Relaxation Technique
The following is a simple method of relaxing which you can develop with the client by using mental imagery and/or soft relaxing music:1. Make yourself physically comfortable. Initially shrug, stretch, and then sit comfortably upright with hands resting on your thighs or lap. Use a few long exhales to help you settle. Keep your eyes open for now.
2. Pay attention to what you can see, hear, and feel.
3. Close your eyes. This gives your brain a break by reducing the amount of in-coming data it has to process.
4. Now pay attention to what you can see, hear and feel with your eyes closed.
5. Do five long exhales. As you do this relax (1) your feet and legs, (2) Your hands and arms, (3) Your torso, (4) Your head and neck, (5) Your entire body. Pay attention to the relaxing effect of each of these out-breaths.
6. Now continue to allow yourself to switch off - breathing normally - paying attention to how your body can relax a little more each time you exhale.
Relaxation Tips
Years of `normal' stressful living undermine our natural ability to switch off and relax anywhere, anytime. You are now simply re-learning this natural ability.
Relaxation is something you allow to happen. You cannot force the issue. It is a gradual process of discovering your personal forms of emotional and physical tension and then discovering which ways of releasing these work best for you.
At first most people find it much easier to relax the body rather than the mind. This is normal. You can certainly learn to allow your mind to become quieter - it simply takes a little longer.
For the first few weeks relax in a sitting position. It is easier to relax lying down but if you make yourself too comfortable you risk falling asleep or becoming too drowsy and this negates some of the benefits.
There is no right way to relax. So rather than attempting to `get it right' experiment to discover what works best for you.
The quality of your relaxation will vary considerably during any session. One moment you may think you are losing the experience and the next you may be even more relaxed than before. So if you think it is not working calmly stay at ease for another minute or so. Then, if necessary, give up and have another session 30-60 minutes later.
There is no `right' time to relax. Take a break any time you like - especially when you notice tension or a negative mood beginning to build up. For the first few weeks you may find it more beneficial to take lots of short 3-5 minute breaks. Most people find it useful to have a relaxing session at the beginning of the day.
