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signs of depression

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Q: Are these initial signs of depression or is it just a bad week?
So probably in the past 5-7 days I’ve been feeling a lot of stress and anxiety over things that usually wouldn’t stress me out at all. And just today I feel out of energy despite the fact that I haven’t done much today and I just don’t feel like being happy. Are these initial symptoms of depression or is this just a passing thing? And if it is depression, is there anyway I can stop it now?

A: prolly from the adderall, stop takin it. stay off any drugs. Like caffeine. Caffeine mimics stress in the body and can make it worse. Stay away from simple carbs too. Eat complex carbs, veggies, whole grains. Stay away from white breads… it’s like giving your stomach a candy bar. It turns to sugar as soon as you digest it. Same with white rice.

Q: Are there any common or certain signs of depression in teens ?
If there is any signs or efeects or ANYTHING please let me know…and if you know anyways to treat it, medically or not let me know.

A: changes in eating and sleeping habits (eating and sleeping too much or too little)
significant weight gain or loss
missed school, poor school performance and/or a sudden decline in grades
withdrawal from friends and family
no longer enjoying activities that were once pleasurable
indecision, lack of concentration, or forgetfulness
feelings of worthlessness or guilt
overreaction to criticism, irritability
feeling that nothing is worth the effort
frequent health complaints when no physical ailment exists
anger, rage, anxiety
lack of enthusiasm and motivation
drug/alcohol abuse, thoughts of death or suicide
Symptoms such as insomnia, panic attacks, delusions or hallucinations can indicate extreme depression,
The first problem is to distinguish between a more serious depression and “normal,” typical adolescent moodiness, caused by hormonal changes and brain growth spurts. For example, it is common for girls to become moody, edgy, and anxious just before and during menstruation, and maybe even longer, if she suffers from hormonal problems. If grouchy behavior seems to have a pattern or cycle, it is likely the symptoms are tied to hormonal changes, and are not indicative of clinical depression. In contrast, one hallmark of clinical depression is the tendency to become isolated—to stop talking to family, and to stop spending time with friends—and this kind of moodiness does not seem to lift after a couple of weeks.

Rushing to a therapist when symptoms are actually within the range of normal can have several negative effects:

the child feels like there must be something wrong with himself or herself, which can tip a fragile balance toward lowered self-esteem
there may be a long-lasting stigma attached to a diagnosis
medications may be prescribed unnecessarily, and without careful monitoring
If you suspect depression:

Respond with love, kindness, and support.
Repeatedly let your child know that you are there, whenever she or he needs you
Be gentle but persistent if your adolescent shuts you out (depressed teenagers do not want to feel patronized or crowded). Do not ask a lot of questions, but make known your concern and your willingness to listen.
Do not criticize or pass judgment once the adolescent begins to talk (the important thing is that he or she is talking and communicating feelings).
Encourage activity and praise efforts to socialize and be active.
Seek help from a doctor or mental health professional if the adolescent’s depressed feeling doesn’t pass with time. Be prepared to list behaviors, note how long and how often they have been occurring, and how severe they seem.
Do not wait and hope that symptoms will go away on their own. When depression is severe—if adolescents are thinking about hurting themselves or about suicide—seek professional help as soon as possible.
Parents of depressed adolescents may themselves need support. Seek out groups of parents who have experience with teen depression.
The single most important thing a parent can do to break down the social isolation that is at the heart of adolescent problems is to LISTEN:

listen when your children talk
listen to their music
spend more time with them and be involved in their activities
take them to movies and concerts, and discuss them afterward
know their friends, and listen to them as well
do not lecture or offer unsolicited advice or ultimatums
do not try to talk them out of their feelings or solve their problems, just acknowledge the pain and sadness they are feeling
do not compare your teen’s feelings, reactions or experiences to your own or to someone else’s
A parent can—and should—express their concerns directly. It is not easy to connect with teens in this way, and parents may need professional guidance to assist them. Yes, it is likely that the teenager will get angry and will say harsh things (“It’s none of your business!” “Get out of my room!” “I hate you!”), but this kind of response is often an unintentional test to see if you are really able to help them. Depressed teenagers will seek answers to the following questions before confiding in an adult:

Will you be able to handle my big feelings? (Often children will keep their feelings inside if they worry that their parents already have too much on their minds or are depressed themselves. If you yourself are experiencing depression or extreme stress, get your own help and support so that you can better help your child.)
Can I trust you to hang in there with me, even when I act like this?
Can I rely on you to be here for me and not to walk away or push me away?
Will you provide a strong and safe place for me—walls that do not cave in even when I push them?
Will you love me even when I don’t know how to love myself or you?
Parents who show their kids that disagreements and painful feelings can safely be expressed—and that they can be resolved—make it safe for their kids to open up to them. The sharing of confusion, sadness, loneliness, shame, and other strong emotions often decreases the intensity, and opens the way for real communication, which in turn reduces the isolation that is such a large part of depression.

Q: What are the signs of depression and anxiety ?
(im in high school) and what exactly is anxiety? And can you get over theses without drugs?

A: Anyone who can tell U that another person “they have decided” is suffering from Depression and/or Anxiety and thay have NO qualifications/vast knowledge/experience on these Conditions is just plain “Kiddin” U.
Thats a Medical answer my friend, take It whichever way U want to.
I do NOT apologise for saying what I said and for disputing other answerers.
We can read up on Depression/Anxiety and learn a little about both, but to Actually SEE THE SIGNS in someone, U need to have great “vision, insight”. Even some doctors need to diagnose carefully when it comes to the Depressive person.
Depression is an illness that in many people is NOT usually recognisable..thats why U often hear of people who commit suicide and U cant figure out why they did it, after IF U knew them, they usually appeared quite normal and even happy.
Anxiety often follows the Depressive person who often also attempts to disguise their Anxiety.
Anxiety by itself (without Depression) is a Physical thing causing signals from a section of the Brain that controls the chemical called Serototin. Serototin levels in the Brain are abnormal..However this in NO way means the subject is abnormal
(“mad” for the want of a better laymans word)
ANXIETY sufferers have intense spasms (attacks) of irrational fear.
These attacks will cause several severe “feelings” in many parts of the Body that are ACTUALLY felt by the sufferer, BUT, in REAL Fact
are NOT medically there. The Brain signals to a part/s of the body that “something” is wrong, when in fact, it is NOT.
As an example an ANXIETY SUFFERER may feel a heavy, thick, tight feeling in the middle of the chest (along the Osop.tube) the tube that runs from the throat to the stomach..in THAT area..and think they are suffering a heart attack, Instantly they Panic,I mean instantly, and the breathing goes shallow (hyerventaltion), the heart rate jumps dramically, the blood pressure rises dramically, roof of mouth goes dry, vision may be impaired,go very dizzy,heavy headache, might tremble, shake,can vomit, but not always,feel as if they are going to “cark” it and a lot of other feelings also.(there are Many, Many) Usually the attack may last 10 mins, some last even longer like half hour or all day.
They feel woeful, a strong thought is there that bodily danger has occured when in fact NOTHING at all has occured that is bodily dangerous. BUT, and heres the BUT, the pain, the feelings of tremendous terror are actually felt..in a part/s of the body when they are NOT there at all, as I said above. This is the Nature of Anxiety and the very hard thing for “anyone” to fully understand, let alone the sufferer. U, if witnessing an Anxiety person, may simply think they are having some type of Panic thing, but U wouldnt actually understand It, unless U were aware that the person was an Anxiety sufferer (U had been told prior) Drugs initially must be administered.
Anxiety and Depression can be VERY Long term.
Depression can be controlled with anti depressant drugs.
Sometimes anti depressant drugs may be prescribed for Anxiety suffers also, but may NOT always be successful.
A Psychologist in both cases can be extremely helpful and can be of the greatest assistance to relieving the sufferers to such an extent that the symptoms may almost dissipate, and may only show themselves very seldom..even not for years.
The Person suffering Depression is at greatest risk of suicide and U wont even know it.
Some people may tell U here are certain signs of depression etc. such as being a loner,shy/timid,may even cry easily,..these type of
symptoms may describe anyone or anything.
Depressive people are, Easily Tired, sleep very restlessly,have constant thoughts about Death etc. How would U know to recognise these symptoms?? They are private personal feelings.
ANXIETY affects EVERY part of the Body from the littlest head hair to the smallest toe nail (not kidding). Anxiety, perhaps just a word, but CAN and DOES cause Hair Dandruff, Dermititis,High Blood Pressure, Back Pain, Vertigo,Ear ache, Tricks of vision (u see things that arnt there) can ACTUALLY rot your Teeth (yes, ,it CAN, even though “VERY” hard to believe)..causes itchy feet/legs,causes U to DRY Reach for NO reason at all,Makes to go to the Toilet, even when U dont want to, causes Diarrhea,causes stomach bloating,puts u OFF sex=Oh yes,
makes U angry for No apparent reason, causes U to pick on others around u to be perfect,keeps U subjected to catching common colds/flu/viruses all the time,causes stuffy blocked nose.makes u often feel your going to pass out, but U dont. Need I say More? IF U can think of a “terrible” body feeling, Anxiety will give u , at some time, the feelings of it.

Hope my answer assists U to understand what your Question asks.

Q: Do teachers know the signs of depression?
I know this question may sound stupid, but are they trained in spotting the signs of depression?

I’m just curius because depression and suicide seem to be so common among teenagers these days…

A: Yes they do. They have taken psych classes. There are signs and things to look for and though I cannot say that all teachers pick up on these signs, most do. I believe there was a list on ten things , like loss of a pet, loved one, and so on. These are things that staff is briefed on. N question is stupid!

Q: What are some signs of depression?
I dont know what is wrong with me but my moods change drastically. i am usually grouchy. always stressed. and i cry over anything and everything. am i depressed? what are some signs of being depressed? i am only 18 years old, can i be depressed at this age?

A: You can be depressed at any age. If you think that you need professional help from a therapist about it, that might be a good idea. Some of your depression could be caused by not getting enough sleep at night, or having a bad diet. Try to get about 8 hours of sleep when you can, I know I always get really irritable when I don’t get enough sleep. I’m going to be 18 in a few weeks, and with graduation and everything else coming up, depression seems to be pretty common. Some things that might help with depression would just be listening to music, simple stuff like that. Write down your thoughts in a notebook when you feel depressed, maybe then you can find what’s causing it and fix it. :]

Q: Are the signs of depression and stress similar?
My counselor asked me if depression could be a possible problem. I don’t think it is, I’m pretty stressed. Any help would be great.

A: Stress can cause depression. So, stress is a symptom of depression; stress is a sign, depression is a disorder. I suggest you look into antidepressants, just until you get over this period in your life. Best wishes.

Q: So there’s physical signs of depression but are there physical signs of someone having a personality disorder?
You know how depression is sumetimes caused by a chemical imbalance and u can also tell if someone has depression by EEG (checking their brain waves).
is there a physical signs like that to determine if u hav a personality disorder or is it solely determined by behaviours and the way u interact with other ppl?

A: Not sure, I did read and watch a program recently that the brain of people with certain personality disorder eg:antisocial personalilty disorder is physically different. I did see them viewing scans, and mri’s comparisons. So I do believe that there are signs but not yet available in testing, probably not reliable enough and too expensive. Maybe one day though..

Q: What signs of depression emerged in the colonies in the 17th century?
and how did these conflicts affect the social and economic system of British colonies?

A: Tobacco was the mainstay of the Virginia and Maryland economies. Plantations were established by riverbanks for the good soil and to ensure ease of transportation. Because wealthy planters built their own wharves on the Chesapeake to ship their crop to England, town development was slow. To cultivate tobacco, planters brought in large numbers of English workers, mostly young men who came as indentured servants. More than 110,000 had arrived in the Chesapeake region by 1700. Each indentured servant meant more land for his sponsor under the headright system, which had the effect of squeezing out small-scale farming.

Fluctuations in Chesapeake tobacco prices caused a prolonged economic depression from 1660 into the early 1700s. Sadly, disillusioned colonists took out their frustrations on the local Indians. In April 1676, Nathaniel Bacon, a relative of Virginia Governor William Berkeley, led three hundred settlers against peaceful local tribes, killing them all. When Bacon’s force grew to twelve hundred men, he decided to drive all Indians out of the colony. Fortunately, Governor Berkeley decided that Bacon’s actions were excessive and recalled him, but Bacon’s army then rebelled against the colonial government and burned Jamestown. Bacon went so far as to promise freedom to servants and slaves of Berkeley’s supporters, but he died suddenly, and his movement fell apart. Bacon’s Rebellion illustrated the tensions between white and Indian, planter and slave, and have and have-not in the colony, tensions made worse by an economic depression that must have seemed without end.

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Chesapeake-Colonies-Virginia-Maryland.topicArticleId-25073,articleId-25011.html

Q: what are the signs of depression?
someone said when your having day where you don’t know what’s wrong and you just feel like crying. is that depression?
and do you think children (under 18s) can get it / suffer with it?

A: It’s much more than that. Yes, I believe children can get it, but I also believe it’s largely overdiagnosed in children and teens. Symptoms:

* difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
* fatigue and decreased energy
* feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
* feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
* insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
* irritability, restlessness
* loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
* overeating or appetite loss
* persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
* persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings
* thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

Basically the same, but here are the symptoms in teens:
* Sadness or hopelessness
* Irritability, anger, or hostility
* Tearfulness or frequent crying
* Withdrawal from friends and family
* Loss of interest in activities
* Changes in eating and sleeping habits
* Restlessness and agitation
* Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
* Lack of enthusiasm and motivation
* Fatigue or lack of energy
* Difficulty concentrating
* Thoughts of death or suicide

Q: What are the major signs of depression?
I am constantly irritable…i go from 1 to 10 lately in a matter of seconds and i really hate it..i feel like i want to crawl out of myskin lately and cry and yell. I don’t know what to do.

A: eating too much
not eating at all
sleeping alot
wanting to be left alone
suicide thoughts
not sleeping enough
having alot of time on your hands
pondering
these are all signs of depression, .
I did not have to show you a link to read ( not sure how to do that yet). Go, or call a God loving church to get some help and answers if you feel like any of the above.

Q: what are some signs of depression?
i think i may have depression! what should i look out for as in signs? i notice how im quiet wont talk to anybody. i haven’t been talking to my mom for about two months.

A: I went through depression and boy was it bad.

I became more quiet, I stayed by myself. I didn’t talk, I didn’t want to.

I didn’t want to be alone, though. I wanted to be at school, somewhere that I could distract myself.

I was depressed a few years ago. I stopped talking to my mom about stuff. It’s been years since then and I still haven’t recovered enough to act around my mom like I used to. We used to watch movies together and laugh, but now I can’t stand to be in the same room with her.

I would go outside and it would be a beautiful day. Strangely, this would hurt me. I would feel physical pain in my chest. Sometimes I couldn’t breathe right. Those were always my worst days.

Depression hits a lot of people differently. You know if you have bad depression or not, because there is no way to describe it. It’s a feeling that’s completely different from everything else.

I’m still depressed, but I’m happy at the same time. I’m even happy that I still get sad. For some reason I don’t want to lose the sadness. It separates me from everyone else.

Q: Can these be signs of depression or bipolar disorder?
Lately, I have been feeling exhausted, but I can’t sleep, isolated (I live with people I don’t know well), extremely moody, a lack of motivation to do anything, my performance at work is declining, I am in college and I have no desire to do assignments, I am losing weight, and I have starting having thoughts of just giving up. It’s very discouraging, and I want to feel better.

A: Yes, it could be depression. It could be other things too, heck, even a physical issue like low thyroid function. You need to see your doctor and get a few tests done to have a diagnosis made.

If it turns out to be depression, you should try cognitive behavioural therapy and if it is a very nasty depression, antidepressants. Antidepressants are necessary for people who are severely depressed because without them, they can’t get to the level where therapy would be beneficial. What one learns in therapy either makes no sense or is impossible for the severely depressed.

People who have a good level of literacy will understand that those studies you see occasionally in the news are not referring to severe depression and calling them placebos is irresponsible and just plain stupid. And a doctor worth his medical degree will be encouraging CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) since the best way to treat depression is CBT and if needed, antidepressants. Heck, many insurance plans cover CBT (and few to no other form of talk therapy) because CBT is proven to be effective.

Q: what are the signs of depression? i think i might have it! if i do, what can i do about it>?
i think i have depression. if you know plz let me know the signs of depression. if you do have depression plz let me know what there is to do about it. what about childhood depression? is it more serious than regular depression>?
no you peoplle dont understand. it is reall serious and i have just about all the symptoms. i just dont know what to do.
no you peoplle dont understand. it is reall serious and i have just about all the symptoms. i just dont know what to do.

A: Hello!! :o ) As I see it – there are two different types of depression. There is a ‘chemical’ depression that is caused by a ‘brain chemistry’ unbalance. This sort of depression can be helped by taking prescribed medications. And there is what I call a ’situational depression’ which is caused by an event. For instance – your dog dies – you become depressed. If you’re depressed and there is NO obvious reason for it [you can't understand WHY you're depressed] than you should see a doctor. If you’re depressed and the reason why IS obvious – then the best thing can do is SOMETHING – ANYTHING!! The very first sign of depression is the lack of interest in doing anything. And the LAST thing you want to DO is anything. [even the simpliest of things - like washing the dishes] As time goes on – the desire to DO something becomes less and less. Some people don’t even bother to bathe and get dressed. It’s a very sad state to be in. But it doesn’t have to get that far. What is ‘childhood depression’? It could be chemical or situational. I think that for many adults [myself included] the reason I struggle with depression NOW is because of the horrible events that took place in my family when I was a child. It’s especially difficult [for an adult] to deal with those ‘things’ that may have happened to them [or around them] when they were children. As an adult – we try to apply ‘adult logic’ to a child’s experience. And that’s not always easy to do. And sometimes – it’s impossible to do. A child’s reality is not always the same as an adult’s reality. A child almost always assumes blame for what’s going on around them. “Mom and Dad are fighting because of ME!!” [That sort of thing] It is important – I believe – for us as adults to respect that child we once were. For their thoughts and feeling and FEARS are still a part of who we are. Sometimes – whenever I’m feeling scared I’ll say to myself, “It’s OK Craig – everything is OK!!” I hope this helps. And I wish you all the best. Craig!! :o )

Q: what are the clinical signs of depression?
i have low energy, hard time focusing, no interest in being social, and i seem to cry at everything these days.
this always seems to happen in the summer and mid winter.

A: Can’t sleep or you sleep too much
Can’t concentrate or find that previously easy tasks are difficult
Feeling hopeless and helpless
Can’t control negative thoughts, no matter how hard you try
More irritable & short tempered than usual
Having thoughts that Life is not worth living

Q: Do i have some signs of depression? how do i know if i have it?
ok here’s the story: all of my friends are graduating including my crush in a week, my favorite teacher and volleyball coach are both leaving and this all happens in a week. i am sooo sad about all of this and am not enjoying things i love and do all the time. i feel sad most of the time, but i still laugh and have fun, but i also feel sad that this might the last time i see these people in around a year. i don’t know if i have depression or i m just feeling mixed emotions around this time b/c of stress and graduation of all of my friends and leaving of awesome teachers/coaches. do i have deporession and how can i not feel this way? also should i try to keep in touch w/ these people b/c it might help?

A: I really feel for you. I’ll start from the end of your question – ok? Definitely staying in touch with the people you love will help you realize that there are ways to keep your attachment intact. I still have a group of 9 girls from high school that are scattered all over the country – we graduated in 1977! – but we get together as often as possible, and with email, we can stay in touch for just the cost of our Internet service! You have suffered a lot of change and a definite feeling of loss. Depression is usually diagnosed when it goes on for a long period of time; after you would normally be able to snap back from change. You are grieving. This is natural and will actually make you stronger when you are through it. My way of handling the sadness in the meantime is through prayer and really opening up my heart to God – I can be as vulnerable with Him as I want to be. Sometimes I talk to Him for a long time, sometimes just a few words. You don’t have to be audible with your words. Silent prayers of Christians are heard just as well by God. If after a couple of months, you find that you don’t feel any better, I would suggest that you see a dr. you trust, and let them know exactly what you are feeling.

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