What are the 7 symptoms that you should never ignore if you have depression?
Depression can make you feel sad or hopeless, and in severe cases, it can lead to suicidal ideation. If you have been diagnosed with depression, you should be on the lookout for changes in your condition and these depression complications that should never be ignored.
Depression symptoms can range from mild lethargy and disinterest in pleasurable activities to dark emotions such as suicidal ideation. In addition, people who are depressed may consider hurting others. If you believe that your family would be better off without you, or that you wish you could hurt someone who has wronged you, please seek immediate medical attention by dialing 911 or a crisis hotline. Even severe depression can be treated by adjusting your medications or talking it out with a professional.
When depression has you in its grip, you may believe that your life will never improve. These feelings of hopelessness, fortunately, can be treated. And you should treat them, because hopelessness can lead to suicidal ideation. If you have been diagnosed with depression and are feeling hopeless about the future, please contact your therapist or doctor as soon as possible. Depressive thoughts like these, in many cases, respond well to medication adjustments.
Many people who suffer from depression never experience "sadness." Instead, they report decreased energy and disinterest in previously pleasurable activities. If you find yourself feeling sad when you weren't before, or if your sadness worsens rather than improves over time, seek help from a medical professional or a therapist. Mood-related symptoms of depression can often be effectively treated by adjusting medication dosages or switching antidepressant medications entirely. Don't allow yourself to be sad when a simple treatment change could help.
People suffering from depression will sometimes seek any means of alleviating their symptoms. However, if that path leads to drug or alcohol abuse, you should contact your healthcare provider. If you take antidepressants, you should avoid mixing them with alcohol or other drugs. Certain substances, when combined with antidepressants, can cause you to stop breathing, have a seizure, or have another adverse reaction. Seek help if you've become addicted to drugs or alcohol. Your provider can assist you in managing your depressive symptoms without the use of alcohol or drugs.
Sleep patterns are frequently disrupted by depression. People suffering from depression may sleep far more or far less than usual. Consult your healthcare provider if you begin to experience insomnia or difficulty sleeping for days or weeks at a time. Chronic sleep deprivation can exacerbate depression symptoms and even lead to suicidal thoughts. Your provider can recommend non-drug treatments for insomnia, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, or may be able to prescribe a sleeping medication that will not interact negatively with your antidepressant.
Many people who suffer from depression have physical symptoms such as muscle aches or body pain. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience new or more severe pain anywhere in your body. New muscle aches or pains may indicate that your depression is worsening and should be evaluated by a professional. Be especially cautious if these body aches coincide with a change in moods, such as increased sadness or hopelessness. Your doctor may be able to treat any worsening symptoms, providing you with relief from the physical side effects of depression.
Many people associate depression with a lack of energy, but this mood disorder can also make you feel agitated from time to time. Agitation can be emotional (you may be upset and unable to calm down), cognitive (you may be unable to concentrate), or physical (you may not be able to sit still). Seek professional help if you are experiencing increasing bouts of agitation. This symptom could indicate that your medications need to be adjusted or that you would benefit from more intensive talk therapy.