What are the symptoms of clinical depression?

Question:

Answers:
Depression:

http://forums.talkcity.com/n/mb/message..

understanding depression:

http://forums.talkcity.com/n/mb/message..

those are 2 links to good info about depression on a forum i visit.

http://testyourself.netdoctor.co.uk/inte.

that is a test to score yourself on how depressed you are

Go to: www.mind.org.uk and they will be able to fill you in on the facts. It's a great website and full of useful info relating to mental health.

Depression Symptoms
Clinical depression is not something you feel for a day or two before feeling better. In true depression, symptoms last weeks or months, sometimes years if you don't seek treatment. If you are depressed, you are often unable to perform daily activities. You may not care enough to get out of bed or get dressed, much less work, do errands, or socialize.

Adults: You may be said to have clinical depression if you have a depressed mood for at least 2 weeks and have at least 5 of the following symptoms:

Feeling sad or blue

Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities

Significant weight loss or weight gain

Inability to sleep or excessive sleeping

Agitation or irritability

Fatigue or loss of energy

Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt

Thoughts of death or suicide

Children: Children with depression also experience these classic symptoms, but may exhibit other symptoms as well, including the following:

Poor school performance

Persistent boredom

Frequent complaints of physical problems such as headaches and stomachaches

Some of the classic "adult" symptoms of depression may also be more obvious in children, such as change in eating or sleeping patterns. (Has the child lost or gained weight in recent weeks or months? Does he or she seem more tired than usual?)

Parents of children with depression report noticing the following behavior changes. If you notice any of these, discuss this with your health care provider.

The child cries more often or more easily.

The child spends more time alone, away from friends and family.

The child actually becomes more "clingy" and may become more dependent on certain relationships. This is less common than withdrawal, though.

The child expresses thoughts about hurting him or herself, or exhibits harmful behavior. The child seems to be overly pessimistic or exhibits excessive guilt or worthlessness.

Elderly: While any of the classic symptoms of depression may occur in elderly people, other symptoms also may be noted.

Diminished ability to think or concentrate

Unexplained physical complaints (for example, abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, or muscle aches)

Memory impairment (in about 10% with severe depression)

Loss of interest in surroundings. Sleep disorders such as not being able to sleep or sleeping all of the time. Not eating or eating too much. Crying episodes. These are signs of depression, but there could be many others.

syptoms are:

~not interested in things that once interested you
~you want to do nothing but sleep
~nothing makes you happy
~you isolate yourself from others and find yourself alone alot
~ and you just plain feel unhappy

if you have these syptoms than go to your doctor and explain to them that you feel you are depressed and they will help.

clinical depression happens when the chemicals in your brain cant interact properly, like they don't connect. its something you are born with and it can happen to anyone. it doesn't mean that anything made you feel down as its all about the chemicals.

symptoms generally are:
having sad thoughts
not sleeping/sleeping too much
being lethargic
being emotional or irrational
being fidgety
loss of appetite/eating too much
being unable to concentrate or enjoy tasks

sadness, loss of interest and motivation in activities/life, unable to enjoy things that were once pleasurable, irritability, loss of concentration, tiredness, changes in appetite, changes in sleep pattern, feeling of hopelessness and despair, possibly wanting to harm yourself or end your life, putting things off all the time that need to get done,

What are the symptoms of clinical depression?

Health Resources