Symptoms of Depression

There is a lot of information available about symptoms of depression. You should check with your doctor or a mental health professional before you reach conclusions.

These symptoms of depression have been compiled from three sources: answers.com, psychnet-uk.com and mental-health-today.com.

In what follows, DSM-IV-TR refers to, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), Fourth Edition (IV) Text Revision (TR). This is one of the diagnostic tools that aid mental health professionals in examining possible symptoms of depression for the diagnosis of clinical depression.

Since this IS NOT my area of expertise, I encourage you to seek mental health help if you see yourself reflected in the list of symptoms described below. Don't hesitate. Reach out and get the help you need to get feeling well again. 

According to the DSM-IV-TR criteria for diagnosing a major depressive episode, five (or more) of the following symptoms of depression must be present for a period of at least two weeks and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, that is, one of the first two symptoms listed below.

Nine Potential Symptoms of Depression

1. Mood. For most of nearly every day, the patient reports depressed mood or appears depressed to others. Feelings of sadness or the seeming inability to feel emotion (emptiness). Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful).
2. Interests. For most of nearly every day, interest or pleasure is markedly decreased in nearly all activities (noted by the patient or by others). A decrease in the amount of interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, daily activities. Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)
3. Eating and weight. Although not dieting, there is a marked loss or gain of weight (such as five percent in one month) or appetite is markedly decreased or increased nearly every day. Changing appetite and marked weight gain or loss. Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (e.g., a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
4. Sleep. Nearly every day the patient sleeps excessively or not enough. Disturbed sleep patterns, such as insomnia, loss of REM sleep or excessive sleep (hypersomnia). Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day
5. Motor activity. Nearly every day others can see that the patient's activity is agitated or retarded. Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day. Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down)
6. Fatigue. Nearly every day there is fatigue or loss of energy. Fatigue, mental or physical, also loss of energy. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
7. Self-worth. Nearly every day the patient feels worthless or inappropriately guilty. These feelings are not just about being sick; they may be delusional. Intense feelings of guilt, nervousness, helplessness, hopelessness, worthlessness, isolation/loneliness and/or anxiety. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day (not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick)
8. Concentration. Noted by the patient or by others, nearly every day the patient is indecisive or has trouble thinking or concentrating. Trouble concentrating, keeping focus or making decisions or a generalized slowing and obtunding of cognition, including memory. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day (either by subjective account or as observed by others)
9. Death. The patient has had repeated thoughts about death (other than the fear of dying), suicide (with or without a plan) or has made a suicide attempt. Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), desire to just "lie down and die" or "stop breathing", recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for completing suicide. Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide These symptoms of depression have been compiled from: answers.com, psychnet-uk.com and mental-health-today.com.

What to Do Next

Please, if you recognize yourself and your situation in this description, seek out mental health services and take advantage of it. You do not need to stay in this state. There are others who can help you. It's not a stigmatizing thing to ask for help. Please do it. 

Again, I do not have expertise in this area. I can only encourage you to seek help and attend to yourself. You will be hard pressed to lead with effectiveness when your own needs are so great.