Depression is a mental disorder that sharply changes your mood, as well as your view of yourself, your surroundings, and the future ahead. You may be overcome by feelings of low self-worth or unjustified guilt, and your ability to concentrate and make decisions may also be impaired.

These feelings and thoughts may be accompanied by physical and biological symptoms, such as problems with sleep, appetite, sexual desire, and energy, as well as pain with no organic cause. Sometimes matters may worsen to the point that a person with depression thinks about ending their life to escape all that pain. These symptoms persist for more than two weeks and do not ease with time or on their own.

What are the most important symptoms of depression?

The main symptoms to notice when you suspect that you may have depression are as follows:

  1. A low mood nearly every day for two weeks.
  2. Loss of pleasure in activities that previously brought you happiness.
  3. Losing or gaining 5% of your body weight without following a particular diet.
  4. Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, and waking early, nearly every night.
  5. Slowing down or feeling agitated nearly every day.
  6. Feeling exhausted or having low energy nearly every day.
  7. Low self-confidence, feelings of low self-worth, or guilt.
  8. Difficulty making decisions, thinking clearly, and/or maintaining concentration.
  9. Auditory or visual phenomena or delusions (psychotic symptoms).
  10. Recurring thoughts about death, self-harm, and suicide and/or making plans for them.
  11. Symptoms become more severe in the early morning hours, especially when waking very early.

Ask yourself whether each symptom applies to you. Then read the list again and rate the severity of each symptom that applies on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 means that the symptom is absent and 10 is the most severe level at which you have experienced it.

Finally, read the list again to determine how often each symptom occurs during the week.

Ask yourself these questions once every week to see whether the symptoms of depression are improving, worsening, or remaining the same.

Also read about What Is the Difference Between Sadness and Depression?

Warning: If the symptoms are severe or you have suicidal thoughts or psychotic symptoms, it is essential to consult a psychiatrist as soon as possible.